GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - R is for The Railway Children

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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Since beginning this series of blog posts I have learnt about the amazing careers of my half second cousins once removed, Alison and Jill McCusker.

I dubbed them as The Railway Children as their father, Neal McCusker, who was married to Mary Irene Magick worked for the railways in NSW. During their childhood the family moved around the country with the family as their father rose up the ranks to become the Commissioner for Railways in New South Wales.

Dr Alison McCusker was an internationally renowned scientist who worked in several overseas countries. You can read a detailed biography of Alison's life online here: https://www.anbg.gov.au/biography/mccusker-alison.html.  Alison was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2009 for service to science through the cataloguing of Australian flora.

Jill McCusker married Russell Fitch in 1969 and reared a family of two children.
Jill who was a physicist and expert in health use of nuclear radiation. She served as a Commissioner in the 1984 The Royal commission into British nuclear testing in Australia. In 2003 Jill was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service, particularly in the field of radiation protection.

On the list for my next visit to the National Library of Australia are the following two items which will give further insight into the lives of The Railway Children.

1900. [Biographical cuttings on Dr Alison McCusker, former botanist, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals] https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/45579263

1900:  [Biographical cuttings on Jill Fitch, South Australian Health Commission physicist, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals] https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/45566627


I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me. 

GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - G is for Gracie's Wedding

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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I have fond memories of Mum's cousin, (Frances) Gracie Reakes, who when she visited Sydney used to stay with my Grandmother Ethel Jane Pusell at Kensington. I loved talking to Gracie and her mother Lena Holmes who was also a regular visitor. Gracie was a Great-Great Grandaughter of Elizabeth Phipps.

I wonder if my Mum travelled from Cobar to Narromine for Grace's wedding which was reported in the local newspaper in Narromine.

939 'GAINSFORD—REAKES.', Narromine News and Trangie Advocate (NSW : 1898 - 1955), 21 February, p. 1. , viewed 02 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103214389

Grace's husband Kenneth was a widower who brought three children to the marriage. Grace and Kenneth had one son, Brian Gainsford, who I don't recall meeting, so perhaps he didn't travel to Sydney with his mother. Brian gave a lovely obituary at his mother's funeral which can be read in the notes on Grace's entry in my online tree. I enjoyed reading about Grace's life when I read this again for this post.

No doubt Gracie would have been very proud of  her descendants. Brian received an Order of Australia in 2009 for his service to cricket, a top Australian athlete. Granddaughter, Melinda Gainsford, was a top athlete who represented Australia internationally. 

I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me. 

GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - F is for a family of Champions

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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Lorna HUXLEY (1911-2009)  

The Great-Great Grandaughter of Elizabeth Phipps, Lorna Margaret Jane HUXLEY, the daughter of Colin Stanley HUXLEY (1879-1954) and Lillian HALL ( - ), was born in Warwick, Queensland on 15 September 1911. By 1933 she employed as a Nurse in The District Hospital, Parramatta, NSW, Australia.  She died at the age of 97 on 22 January 2009 in NSW, Australia.

Lorna and Charles Geoffrey CHAMPION became engaged on 27 July 1935.and were wed on 20 November 1935 in Warwick Presbyterian Church, Warwick, Queensland, Australia. There was a long report of the wedding in the newspapers. The whole report can be read here: 
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article177341799

1935 'Family Notices', Warwick Daily News (Qld. : 1919 -1954), 23 November, p. 3. , viewed 02 Apr 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article177341799

Her husband Charles Geoffrey CHAMPION, a general practitioner, was born in NSW. He was awarded an 'Order of the British Empire' on 16 June 1979. He died on 26 October 1984 in NSW. 

Charles and Lorna Margaret Jane HUXLEY had the following three children: Geoffrey David CHAMPION, Susan Margaret CHAMPION and (Graham) Warwick CHAMPION all of whom I believe are still living. These offspring were just not Champions in name.

Associate Professor Geoffrey David CHAMPION was awarded an Order of Australia  for "For significant service to medicine in the field of paediatric rheumatology, and to medical research and treatment of musculoskeletal pain."

I haven't been able to dig up any information on daughter Susan except that she married in 1969.

Warwick and his wife Rosemary are prominent Queensland graziers who featured in an ABC Documentary. You can read their story here:  https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/04/17/3987497.htm

I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me. 

GeniAus - #AtoZChallenge - A is for Artie

During April 2020 the month of this #AtoZChallenge I will be sharing short posts on some of the 2,000+ descendants I have identified of my 3x Great-Grandmother, Elizabeth Phipps. 

Elizabeth Phipps 1785-1869 was a convict who was transported from England to New South Wales in 1814 per Wanstead. 

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One day back in October 2011 I was at home preparing dinner when I got a phone call from Mum's second cousin, Arthur Henry Beetson who was wanting help with our family tree. Neither Mum or I had ever met Arthur but we both  knew of this famous Australian cousin who was better known as "Big Artie". 

I was saddened that Artie passed away at the relatively young age of 66 a short time later on December 1, 2011 before I was able to send him any family history files. Arthur was the 2xGreat-Grandson of  Elizabeth Phipps.


Relationship to Phipps Elizabeth

Phipps Elizabeth  Bef 1785 - 1869

Westbrook James  1784 - 1859

Magick James  1826 - Bef 1880

Hayward Bridget Ann  Abt 1830 - 1872

Magick Bridget Ann  1867 - 1934

Beetson Andrew Alfred  1854 - 1938

Beetson William Henry  1897 - 1975

Loder Marie  1912 - 1982

Beetson Arthur Henry  1945 - 2011

Beetson Arthur Henry is the 2 x great grandson of Phipps Elizabeth

Artie was a proud indigenous man -  the first Indigenous captain of a major Australian sporting team, The Australian Rugby League team, The Kangaroos.   Beetson received a Medal of the Order of Australia "in recognition of service to the sport of Rugby League"

I will not share a story of Artie's life here as it is well documented on many internet sites. You can read Artie's obituary here, http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/beetson-arthur-henry-artie-16716, on the Obituaries Australia website (note the incorrect date of death in  the article title - it should be 1945-2011).

Please take a look at The ARTIE Academy,https://www.artie.net.au/about/, a charity set up in Artie's memory.

I love to connect with cousins and fellow researchers. Should you find any errors in my post or have additional information please contact me.