As I had written about Mum's connection with the GPO in Sydney earlier this month I thought it pertinent to reshare this post I wrote ten years ago.
Showing posts with label Celebrations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celebrations. Show all posts
Monday, June 28, 2021
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Trove Tuesday - 40th Brthday
This week one of the GeniAus offspring celebrated his 40th birthday. The celebrations lasted all day with a trip to the movies, a Mexican lunch, a game of ten pin bowls, a two hour karaoke session, a Thai dinner, then back to his home for cake, coffee and chat. We oldies settled for the karaoke, Thai and cake.
I wondered how other Australians celebrated their 40th birthdays so turned to Trove.
I wondered how other Australians celebrated their 40th birthdays so turned to Trove.
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| "JUDGE ON 40th BIRTHDAY" The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) 21 March 1952: 2. Web. 18 Jun 2018 |
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| "HASSETT HAS 40th BIRTHDAY" Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW : 1893 - 1953) 3 September 1953: 4. Web. 18 Jun 2018 |
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| "JOINED ON 40th BIRTHDAY" The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) 24 July 1917: 12. Web. 18 Jun 2018 |
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| "Chaplin's 40th Birthday." Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954) 18 April 1929: 2. Web. 18 Jun 2018 |
Monday, July 25, 2016
St Matthews Anglican Church, Windsor - Bicentenary Celebrations
I have been asked to publish this notice. I am pleased to do so as I have ancestors interred at St Matthews.
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In October 2017, St Matthews Anglican Church, Windsor, will be celebrating the bicentenary of the laying of the foundation stone by Governor Lachlan Macquarie on 11 October 1817.
St Matthews and its associated graveyard are historically significant to the state of NSW and to the Hawkesbury area. The church has been the centre of spiritual life in the district since it was consecrated by the Reverend Samuel Marsden in 1822, with many families marking marriages, baptisms and deaths over several generations.
The cemetery at St Matthews has been in use since former convict, later appointed Chief Constable and magistrate, Andrew Thompson, was buried there in 1810. There are a number of First Fleeter grave sites and twelve of those are marked with plaques from the Fellowship of First Fleeters. These grave sites are:
Name
ARNDELL, Thomas
BARNETT, Daniel Convict
CROSS, John Convict
CUSLEY, Benjamin Marine Private Friendship 1845
DALTON, Elizabeth (Arndell) Convict
also (Burley / Burleigh)
FORRESTER, Robert Convict Scarborough 1827
GREEN, Ann (Bladdey / Bladdy) Convict Lady Penhryn 1820
HOLMES, Susannah (Kable) Convict Charlotte 1825
KABLE / CABELL, Henry Convict Friendship 1846
MARROTT / MERRITT, John Convict
MILES / Moyle, Edward Convict
ROBERTS, William
During the lead up to the bicentenary, family societies and descendants of those who have current or former connections with the church are invited to celebrate their association with St Matthews by holding reunions, commemorative services or family get – togethers at the Church. Interested individuals, family groups or associations are invited to join the mailing list to be kept informed of events leading up to the bicentenary.
A commemorative service will be held on Sunday 8 October 2017. A community and schools service will be held on Wednesday 11 October 2017. Several concerts will also be held in the church. As well as open days for the whole of the church precinct ie, church, graveyard, stables and rectory.
If you would like to be kept informed email stmatthewsbicentenary@
Monday, May 9, 2016
Sold
Way back in 1979 my parents moved from a home unit (flat, apartment) in Randwick into a small cottage further along the street where they lived. There were several reasons for this move but one of them revolved around my family.
At the time I had three young children and a fourth on the way. It was difficult climbing up three flights to visit Mum and Dad and there was no outdoor area for the children to play. With impending retirement Mum and Dad also realised that a garden would give them space to get away from each other, a place for Dad to amuse himself plus it would be more convenient for grandchildren visits.We spent several months looking for suitable properties, none of which were quite right.
When Mum was chatting with a lady she knew in a local organisation, this woman indicated that she was selling her home at 28 Dolphin Street. Mum and Dad took a look, they agreed on a price and Mum and Dad moved down the hill on 15 June 1979. Mum moved on to a retirement village several years ago after Dad passed away and finally on the weekend, on her behalf, I auctioned Number 28 Dolphin Street.
I thought I did not have a great emotional attachment to the house but, as the auction approached, my children recalled the many happy times they had spent with their grandparents at number 28. I realised that the cottage was important to my family history. When they were university students and young marrieds each of my children had a period living in a neighbouring property so they also were neighbours of Grandma and Grandpa for a time and they all kept an eye on each other. With the sale of Mum's house the Dolphin Street era has come to a close.
I am recording this event on my blog and taking a trip down memory lane via some photos in my collection so that future generations will have a window into the times we shared at that little cottage.
Dad loved taking photos. This is the earliest we have of Dolphin Street and shows Mum and my younger son sitting on the front fence We have quite a few photos of family members sitting on that fence which is seen in the auction Day shot.
Fast forward to 1985 and there's another family group on the fence, my four children, my cousin and her firstborn.
My parents' dining table features in many photos as Mum and Dad loved hosting us and the extended family for various celebrations. Above is a photo from my birthday in 1980. Dad was a big kid who also enjoyed his birthdays (below).
When they were home alone Mum and Dad had their meals and coffee breaks at their small kitchen table.
Dad nurtured the old Magnolia tree in the garden. As they grew my children spent a lot of time in that tree.
The kids had the run of the house. Grandma always had activity and painting books to amuse them.
One error of judgment on my part occurred when I gave my parents a pound puppy, Susie. I thought they needed canine company but they didn't. Thankfully Susie found a happy long term home with my cousin.
Dad's last visit home from his nursing home to Dolphin Street was in 2000.
At the time I had three young children and a fourth on the way. It was difficult climbing up three flights to visit Mum and Dad and there was no outdoor area for the children to play. With impending retirement Mum and Dad also realised that a garden would give them space to get away from each other, a place for Dad to amuse himself plus it would be more convenient for grandchildren visits.We spent several months looking for suitable properties, none of which were quite right.
When Mum was chatting with a lady she knew in a local organisation, this woman indicated that she was selling her home at 28 Dolphin Street. Mum and Dad took a look, they agreed on a price and Mum and Dad moved down the hill on 15 June 1979. Mum moved on to a retirement village several years ago after Dad passed away and finally on the weekend, on her behalf, I auctioned Number 28 Dolphin Street.
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| Auction Day - 28 Dolphin Street |
I thought I did not have a great emotional attachment to the house but, as the auction approached, my children recalled the many happy times they had spent with their grandparents at number 28. I realised that the cottage was important to my family history. When they were university students and young marrieds each of my children had a period living in a neighbouring property so they also were neighbours of Grandma and Grandpa for a time and they all kept an eye on each other. With the sale of Mum's house the Dolphin Street era has come to a close.
I am recording this event on my blog and taking a trip down memory lane via some photos in my collection so that future generations will have a window into the times we shared at that little cottage.
Dad loved taking photos. This is the earliest we have of Dolphin Street and shows Mum and my younger son sitting on the front fence We have quite a few photos of family members sitting on that fence which is seen in the auction Day shot.
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| Fence lineup |
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| My birthday - 1980 |
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| Grandpa cuts his cake |
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| 1990 - Son's birthday |
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| My birthday - 1991 |
We usually had Christmas lunch at our home but on a couple of occasions we went to Mum's. Our celebrations were often accompanied by that classic wine, Sparkling Bodega.
One of Grandma's' specialties was crumbed cutlets which the kids devoured.
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| Crumbed cutlets |
While Mum loved cooking she was happy to sit back after she had served a meal. Dad would don an apron and wash the dishes, he used make such a splash that the floor got a wash at the same time. Sometimes one of my children would help him.
When they were home alone Mum and Dad had their meals and coffee breaks at their small kitchen table.
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The kids had the run of the house. Grandma always had activity and painting books to amuse them.
One error of judgment on my part occurred when I gave my parents a pound puppy, Susie. I thought they needed canine company but they didn't. Thankfully Susie found a happy long term home with my cousin.
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| Susie didn't stay long at Dolphin Street |
My maternal grandmother was always included in celebrations. 1988 was the last time we celebrated Mother's Day with her, in the photo below are four generations of females in my family.
Dad's last visit home from his nursing home to Dolphin Street was in 2000.
And in 2001 a new generation came to Dolphin Street when Mum's first Great-grandchild visited.
Until she moved to a retirement apartment Mum was quite houseproud.
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| Mum supervising my husband in the yard. |
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| Mum loved her new kitchen |
Although Mum was quite keen on decorating she saw no reason to replace the bathroom which the real estate agent described described as "classic and spacious". When my grand-daughter visited on auction day she was quite taken with the pinkness of it.
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| Spacious, classic bathroom |
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Dancing in the Streets
When my elder son phoned this morning he asked if I had scanned a particular photo in our family collection. I told him this was in the "to do" collection and asked why he wanted to know.
He responded that he thought it would be appropriate for a blog post today. Any geneaparent would understand how thrilled I was to have an offspring call with a blogging suggestion. Said son knew I was preparing for a weekend away and suggested that if I could find the photo I could scan it and write a blog post on my phone while travelling to my destination so that is what I am doing.
Today, 15th August is the 70th anniversary of what we in Australia call VP or Victory in the Pacific Day.
In August 1945 my mother was a 22 year old telephoniste who with her sister worked at Sydney's General Post Office in Martin Place. She recalls that when the end of the war was announced most people left their workplaces and joined an impromptu party in Martin Place.
The photo my son enquired about features my mother and others celebrating and dancing in Martin Place. Mum is the young lady on the right in the classy two tone shoes. I don't have a source but know it was published in a Sydney newspaper or magazine at the time..
Thank you, Jonathon for your blogging suggestion. I am thrilled that you and your siblings appreciate our family stories.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Otherwise engaged
I haven't posted on this blog for a couple of days but I have been a busy little Geneabee.
With an upcoming presentation to a local Probus Genealogy group this week I decided that my Google Search talk was a bit tired so I gave it a major makeover and I am rather pleased with the result. I usually update this talk with local examples before delivering it (and that takes a couple of hours) but it has taken me considerably more time to rejig the whole thing.
Of course Mother's Day Week was busy. Instead of hosting the family for a meal on Mother's Day we celebrated with Mum and each family in turn and that took some time but it was nice to share a meal with each of three families and have time to chat. Celebrations started on Thursday with a Mothers' Week event at a grandchild's preschool and will conclude when we catch up with our out of town daughter and family next weekend. Our wedding anniversary was wedged in there too and of course we had to celebrate our stayer status.
My family history database is still getting a going over. I have carried out first aid on several hundred more records but I have a lot of cleaning up to do. I try to devote time to this exercise each day. I must upload the changes to my GeniAus Family site this week as it's a few weeks since I have done so.
I have blogged today but it has been over at the Geneadictionary and at my CurryAus blog. Do pop over and visit them sometime. CurryAus is the surname study I am working on very slowly; I use the blog to record my progress. I find it useful to record what I am doing and feel that by sharing my journey I may help others.
With an upcoming presentation to a local Probus Genealogy group this week I decided that my Google Search talk was a bit tired so I gave it a major makeover and I am rather pleased with the result. I usually update this talk with local examples before delivering it (and that takes a couple of hours) but it has taken me considerably more time to rejig the whole thing.
Of course Mother's Day Week was busy. Instead of hosting the family for a meal on Mother's Day we celebrated with Mum and each family in turn and that took some time but it was nice to share a meal with each of three families and have time to chat. Celebrations started on Thursday with a Mothers' Week event at a grandchild's preschool and will conclude when we catch up with our out of town daughter and family next weekend. Our wedding anniversary was wedged in there too and of course we had to celebrate our stayer status.
My family history database is still getting a going over. I have carried out first aid on several hundred more records but I have a lot of cleaning up to do. I try to devote time to this exercise each day. I must upload the changes to my GeniAus Family site this week as it's a few weeks since I have done so.
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| The CurryAus Blog |
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| The Geneadictionary |
Saturday, June 28, 2014
28th June 1946
Recycling a post from June 2011
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28th June 1946
Sifting and sorting through a box of filing yesterday I was faced with a small booklet with that June date printed on the cover. As June 28 was only a day away I investigated further and found that it was one of my mother's mementos. A timely find for a blog post today.
During the Second World War and until she married Mum worked as a telephoniste at The GPO (General Post Office) in Martin Place in Sydney. It appears that she had a busy social life with her workmates and tribe of sisters. They attended many functions organsed by The Postal Institute.
The booklet I had found was the cover of the souvenir program for The Victory Ball organised by the Postal Institute to celebrate the end of World War II that my mother had attended along with some of her friends. Checking out the autographs, written in pencil and now faded, on the back cover of the program I saw some familiar names.
Roma Bannon was a country girl who boarded with my mother's family in Sydney. Until her death she remained a close friend of my mother's and was a treasured member of our extended family. Arthur Johnson was another boarder from the country who lived in my grandmother's crowded house at Kensington. Arthur boarded with my grandmother for around 30 years until she became too feeble to manage a home. Kath Tuohey a friend from my mother's hometown, Cobar, is still a friend of my mother's today. I would be surprised if some of Mum's sisters were not at this event but their names so not appear in her list of autographs.
The inside cover and first page of the program contain a message from the President of The New South Wales Postal Institute, J.M. Hotson and a list of committee members.
The venue, The Grace Brothers Auditorium, was part of the flagship Broadway store of the Grace Brothers retail empire. It was a major venue on the Sydney social scene. I remember attending children's birthday parties and seeing Santa at the grand Christmas display there as a youngster and, as a young adult, I enjoyed a number of balls there. The store was closed in 1992 and reopened as a shopping and cinema complex in 1998.
Although my mother's dance program is empty I am sure that she did not miss a dance. She still enjoys a twirl round the dance floor whenever the occasion presents itself.
The remaining pages of the program tell of the "Telegraph Service" that had been set up in the ballroom and gives a list of attendeeswith apologies to those not on the list. (Mum and her friends are missing.)
At the top and bottom of each page of the program are humourous quips that include:
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| Cover- PO Victory Ball Program |
The booklet I had found was the cover of the souvenir program for The Victory Ball organised by the Postal Institute to celebrate the end of World War II that my mother had attended along with some of her friends. Checking out the autographs, written in pencil and now faded, on the back cover of the program I saw some familiar names.
Roma Bannon was a country girl who boarded with my mother's family in Sydney. Until her death she remained a close friend of my mother's and was a treasured member of our extended family. Arthur Johnson was another boarder from the country who lived in my grandmother's crowded house at Kensington. Arthur boarded with my grandmother for around 30 years until she became too feeble to manage a home. Kath Tuohey a friend from my mother's hometown, Cobar, is still a friend of my mother's today. I would be surprised if some of Mum's sisters were not at this event but their names so not appear in her list of autographs.
 |
| Autographs - PO Victory Ball |
The inside cover and first page of the program contain a message from the President of The New South Wales Postal Institute, J.M. Hotson and a list of committee members.
The venue, The Grace Brothers Auditorium, was part of the flagship Broadway store of the Grace Brothers retail empire. It was a major venue on the Sydney social scene. I remember attending children's birthday parties and seeing Santa at the grand Christmas display there as a youngster and, as a young adult, I enjoyed a number of balls there. The store was closed in 1992 and reopened as a shopping and cinema complex in 1998.
Although my mother's dance program is empty I am sure that she did not miss a dance. She still enjoys a twirl round the dance floor whenever the occasion presents itself.
At the top and bottom of each page of the program are humourous quips that include:
- It is a poor heart that never rejoices
- The forward girl often looks backward
- Blondes are always lightheaded creatures
- The cost of living is a soar point with us
- Eve introduced the first loose leaf system
- Blessed are the innocent - for they have a lot to learn
- Tie mail matter securely - use a parson
- Lost patrners will be locked up in the Drunk Exchange until called for. Last clearance at 1 am.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Children's Birthday Parties
Have I been to some birthday parties in my time! With eleven grandchildren I imagine that I will attend a few more in my day.
Although these celebrations can be noisy and chaotic I love them. I am privileged to be able to share in these festivities with my favourite troupe of little people. One of the recurring elements in all of these parties is the cake.
Today two of the children are having a shared party and last night my daughter posted a photo of he cake she created (without even a cake mix) to Facebook. She apparently borrowed the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Party Cake Book that I used to make several of my children's cakes so that she could create her masterpiece.
In a subsequent 'phone call she asked me to find the photo I had taken of a cake I made for one of her birthdays. I dutifully found it in my Picasa collection and posted it to Facebook.
What really touched me were a couple of comments she made on the Facebook cake post "Thanks Mum (Jill) I loved that cake xx" and ....."In 1988 I thought it was the best thing ever!"
Even though 25 years have passed it gives me goosebumps to realise that the effort I made in producing that cake was appreciated by my little girl.
Although these celebrations can be noisy and chaotic I love them. I am privileged to be able to share in these festivities with my favourite troupe of little people. One of the recurring elements in all of these parties is the cake.
Today two of the children are having a shared party and last night my daughter posted a photo of he cake she created (without even a cake mix) to Facebook. She apparently borrowed the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Party Cake Book that I used to make several of my children's cakes so that she could create her masterpiece.
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| My daughter's creation - 2013 |
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| My creation - 1988 |
Even though 25 years have passed it gives me goosebumps to realise that the effort I made in producing that cake was appreciated by my little girl.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
28th June 1946
Sifting and sorting through a box of filing yesterday I was faced with a small booklet with that June date printed on the cover. As June 28 was only a day away I investigated further and found that it was one of my mother's mementos. A timely find for a blog post today.
During the Second World War and until she married Mum worked as a telephoniste at The GPO (General Post Office) in Martin Place in Sydney. It appears that she had a busy social life with her workmates and tribe of sisters. They attended many functions organsed by The Postal Institute.
The booklet I had found was the cover of the souvenir program for The Victory Ball organised by the Postal Institute to celebrate the end of World War II that my mother had attended along with some of her friends. Checking out the autographs, written in pencil and now faded, on the back cover of the program I saw some familiar names.
Roma Bannon was a country girl who boarded with my mother's family in Sydney. Until her death she remained a close friend of my mother's and was a treasured member of our extended family. Arthur Johnson was another boarder from the country who lived in my grandmother's crowded house at Kensington. Arthur boarded with my grandmother for around 30 years until she became too feeble to manage a home. Kath Tuohey a friend from my mother's hometown, Cobar, is still a friend of my mother's today. I would be surprised if some of Mum's sisters were not at this event but their names so not appear in her list of autographs.
The inside cover and first page of the program contain a message from the President of The New South Wales Postal Institute, J.M. Hotson and a list of committee members.
The venue, The Grace Brothers Auditorium, was part of the flagship Broadway store of the Grace Brothers retail empire. It was a major venue on the Sydney social scene. I remember attending children's birthday parties and seeing Santa at the grand Christmas display there as a youngster and, as a young adult, I enjoyed a number of balls there. The store was closed in 1992 and reopened as a shopping and cinema complex in 1998.
Although my mother's dance program is empty I am sure that she did not miss a dance. She still enjoys a twirl round the dance floor whenever the occasion presents itself.
The remaining pages of the program tell of the "Telegraph Service" that had been set up in the ballroom and gives a list of attendeeswith apologies to those not on the list. (Mum and her friends are missing.)
At the top and bottom of each page of the program are humourous quips that include:
|
| Cover- PO Victory Ball Program |
The booklet I had found was the cover of the souvenir program for The Victory Ball organised by the Postal Institute to celebrate the end of World War II that my mother had attended along with some of her friends. Checking out the autographs, written in pencil and now faded, on the back cover of the program I saw some familiar names.
Roma Bannon was a country girl who boarded with my mother's family in Sydney. Until her death she remained a close friend of my mother's and was a treasured member of our extended family. Arthur Johnson was another boarder from the country who lived in my grandmother's crowded house at Kensington. Arthur boarded with my grandmother for around 30 years until she became too feeble to manage a home. Kath Tuohey a friend from my mother's hometown, Cobar, is still a friend of my mother's today. I would be surprised if some of Mum's sisters were not at this event but their names so not appear in her list of autographs.
|
| Autographs - PO Victory Ball |
The inside cover and first page of the program contain a message from the President of The New South Wales Postal Institute, J.M. Hotson and a list of committee members.
The venue, The Grace Brothers Auditorium, was part of the flagship Broadway store of the Grace Brothers retail empire. It was a major venue on the Sydney social scene. I remember attending children's birthday parties and seeing Santa at the grand Christmas display there as a youngster and, as a young adult, I enjoyed a number of balls there. The store was closed in 1992 and reopened as a shopping and cinema complex in 1998.
Although my mother's dance program is empty I am sure that she did not miss a dance. She still enjoys a twirl round the dance floor whenever the occasion presents itself.
At the top and bottom of each page of the program are humourous quips that include:
- It is a poor heart that never rejoices
- The forward girl often looks backward
- Blondes are always lightheaded creatures
- The cost of living is a soar point with us
- Eve introduced the first loose leaf system
- Blessed are the innocent - for they have a lot to learn
- Tie mail matter securely - use a parson
- Lost patrners will be locked up in the Drunk Exchange until called for. Last clearance at 1 am.
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