Sepia Saturday 204: 23 November 2013 - Roused from my sleep

It was a Saturday, 23 November 1963, when the news of JFK's shooting reached Australia. I was in bed when my mother came into my room to tell me the news. Like millions all over the world I was absolutely stunned. Just as I remember what I was doing the day Princess died I have a very clear recollection of what happened 50 years ago today.

Catholic Schoolgirl - 1963

My heroes weren't pop stars (except for the Beatles), they were men and women of vision or selfless characters who worked to improve the lot of others.

I was a great fan of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and used to read every newspaper and magazine article about him that I could get my hands on. I also had a small collection of books about Kennedy some of which I still have in my library today. No doubt this interest was fuelled by the nuns at the Catholic school I attended as they were also in awe of the Catholic President. I admired  the American Princess, Jackie Kennedy, and the cute little Kennedy kids. The Kennedys were America's royals.

My interest in Kennedy has waned over the years but if there is an opportunity to watch a documentary about Kennedy, his family and the assassination I take it. Just last night I watched two Kennedy related documentaries.

The only place I visited when I had a day in Dallas last year was The Sixth Floor Museum (The former Texas School Book Depository). Although it was a sobering experience the pilgrimage to the Museum was one of the highlights of that trip to the US. It took me back to that day 50 years ago when a Catholic schoolgirl mourned one of her heroes.

The Sixth Floor Museum (2012)

The former Texas School Book Depository (2012)

This post is my submission for Sepia Saturday 204.

Sepia Saturday 191 : 24 August 2013

 Rob From Amersfoort wonders if the subjects in the prompt image for this week are a man with his two wives. This idea resonated with me and sent me scurrying to my online images to find a picture that told us that Mr Geniaus' ancestor, James Ball, had two wives. 

It was on a visit to Rochdale Cemetery during our first genealogy holiday in the Mother Country about twelve years ago that we found James' grave in that Cemetery and learnt that James had had two wives and that the threesome were resting together for eternity.  After this find we raced around to the Local Records Office and bolstered the British economy by buying more BDM certificates.

The photo is of very low resolution, I hope that I can find the original or we may have to return to Rochdale to take another picture but next time it won't be in January.

Sepia Saturday 186 : 20 July 2013 - Fancy Dress

Time is marching on and I am a little late for Sepia Saturday but I just remembered I had some Fancy Dress pictures from my Mother's album that are most suitable for this week's theme.

My Mother, it seems, has always been prone to dressing up.

Aunty Eileen Duncan and Mum, Elsie Duncan c 1937

Mum, Elsie Duncan and friend c 1940

Mum, Elsie Duncan (3rd from left) and friends c 1947

Mum and two of my children, 1978

Mum, Elsie Duncan, with my Son and Grandson 2007.

Sepia Saturday 183 - Grottoes

Sometimes a word just resonates. When I saw the word Grottoes on the latest Sepia Saturday blog post I immediately knew which photo I just had to share this week.

This photo evokes so many memories for me that I am going to set it to X-large on Blogger and  let it flow over into the sidebar of my blog.

St Vincent's College Infants Students c 1956

The grotto with its statue of Our Lady was supposed to be a place of reflection for students of St Vincent's College, Potts Point in Sydney but for we infant students in the 50s it provided a wonderful place to hide and climb. we had so much fun acting like little mountain goats until Helen A knocked that statue over and broke it - her father had to pay for a replacement. I think that after that mishap our climbing activities were curtailed.

BTW I am towards the right in the middle - little girl with fringe sticking her tummy out.

This is a post in response to Sepia Saturday 183

Sepia Saturday - SS182 My very first Sepia Saturday post

I have for quite a while enjoyed Sepia Saturday posts from fellow genealogists. When my friend, Jackie, told me the theme for this week's post I thought that I'd like to take part.

Both my Mum and Dad were raised in country New South Wales and spent a bit of time with horses in their youth. So here goes with some horsey photos from my family albums.

c 1925 

My grandfather, Frank Duncan, on horseback with my Uncle Bill Chatfield. Frank played the cornet in the Cobar Band. This photo was probably taken on the family property, Elsinore near Cobar NSW.

1940

My Dad, Allan down on the farm in Canowindra NSW. The inscription on the back of the photo from his album reads "Self on Ballantyne".

1954

During the Queen's visit to Australia in 1954 my Dad, as a member of the NSW Mounted Police, spent quite a bit of time on horseback. He is the policeman on the far right of this photo and I can see Aunty Eileen in the crowd between the third and fourth horsemen.

This post was written for Sepia Saturday 182.