You mentioned Sarah McCauley who married David Fleck. Her father was John Fleck. I found this article about her funeral which mentions many relatives, including McCauley cousin and nephews.
Regarding the Flecks, a surname I am unfamiliar with, NZ’s Papers Past has a Waipukurau marriage listed in the Patea Mail on the 23 Sept 1931 of Mary Ann the 4th daughter, of Mrs and the late John Fleck, Moorfields, Ballymena, North Island (Ireland?) to a Raymond Lord. I see that there was a John Fleck of Greenhill listed amongst the mourners at the funeral of MRS. DAVID FLECK, BALLYNULTO in 1911.
Hmm. Well I suppose that could refer to Edward Killen who basically lived next door at Glenville, Jockeysquarter. He sold up and emigrated to Australia in the 1870s and I think he ended up with vast tracts of land.
Searching NZ’s newspapers at the Papers Past site using ‘Glenwherry / Glenwhirry’ as a search word throws up a couple of familiar Antrim names including the below:
The death of Isabella, the youngest daughter of the late Edward Killen, Esq., of Glenwille, Glenwhirry, County Antrim, Ireland. Northern Advocate, 9 February 1920 at the home of her niece, Mrs Henry Smith.
I see that she was 77 yrs old according to her death registration (under Killin)i.e. bc 1843.
There is a mention in Edward Killen of Glenwhirry’s 1856 Will of his daughter, Isabella.
Isabella’s will is available to view online. It may contain some clues to advance your Killen search.
"New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998," FamilySearch.org (
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2XL-SPND : 21 February 2019), Isabella Killen, 1920; citing , , record number 13957, Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office; FamilySearch digital folder 101543881.
Also the probate site has a John Killen’s will (b. Glenville, nr Ballymena,Co Antrim, d 1920 Katikati, NZ.) who is probably Isabella’s brother. He was 91 years old. As well as his children in Australia except for one NZ daughter , John’s will mentions his cousin a James Miller Killen of Horahora, Whangarei.
James Miller Killen’s July 1928 obituary states that was born in Co Down, became a Presbyterian Minister then a lawyer and Mayor of Whangarei.
I spotted an Edward Brice Killen Gordon born 1885 in NZ. He served in WW1. I seems his parents were a Martha Killlen and Rev David Gordon. Martha’s father was a Rev. James Killen of the First Church, Cumber, Co Down. I think the Rev. James was born in Antrim.
You may or may not be aware of this site on Rootsweb which could help you out with your family Australian connection that your father spoke about.
KILLEN Family of Carnmoney & Ballymena (and the New World) - NIR ...
https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/nir-antrim@rootsweb.com/thread/10783395/Sep 7, 2001 - The main Antrim family names of interest to me are: KILLEN, ... It can be viewed & accessed at:
http://worldconnect.genealogy. ... These two sons, and a third, Edward Killen (1800-1856) who lived at Glenville,
And:
Ted Marr's MARR KILLEN YOUNG GRAY WILSON TURNER ...
wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=SHOW&db=tedmarr&recno...
Nov 1, 2013 - KILLEN, Edward b: 14 OCT 1833 in Co. Antrim,,,Ireland d: 4 JAN 1909 in Manly,,NSW,Australia KILLEN, Edward b: 1 FEB 1895 in Ireland,,,
The above Edward and family seem to be the only down under Killens that owned a considerable amount of land (NSW around the now greater Sydney area ) although there does not seem to be a close McAuley connection.
Kind regards,
KiwiRose.