By Bev Murray. I remember when I was a young child, my grandmother, told me a fascinating but tragic story about a lady who lived a long time ago. “One day long ago,” she said, “one of your ancestors went outside her home to get some wood and she never returned. She disappeared and was never seen again.” “What happened to her?” I asked and my grandmother explained, “It was thought that she had been taken by the blacks”. This … Continue reading
By Meg Carney. For many years I have been intrigued by wedding fashion, in particular the bride’s gown, and how much thought and consideration goes into the planning of this dress. A dress which is usually only ever worn once then packed away carefully, treasured but then mostly forgotten, the glory days of the preparations and the wedding itself fading into the background as the cares, worries and humdrum of everyday life take centre stage. The wedding of my grandparents, … Continue reading
By Marg Doherty. ‘We have lived fourteen years together now and we will die together’. Thomas McGladdery is said to have made this statement on board the wreck of the RMS Quetta, a ship from the British India line. The speaker was referring to a woman and three children standing near him on the doomed ship.[1] The Quetta sank at 9.14 pm on 28 February 1890 as it sailed in Torres Strait at the top of Queensland for London. The … Continue reading
By Peter Cass. A year ago I wrote a cheerful 1200 words about the joys and mysteries and fun and learning of being a non-family historian travelling on life’s journey with a heavy hitter in the field. This year I’m thinking on somewhat more serious lines. The continuing COVID-19 pandemic has certainly had a huge impact on Australia, with nearly 72,000 cases and over 1,000 deaths, nearly all in New South Wales and Victoria, and huge social and economic disruption. … Continue reading
By Bev Murray. Way back in 1962, I went to Canberra on a year six excursion and we paid a visit to the old Parliament House (the current Parliament house was built in 1981). I have embarrassingly vivid memories of announcing to a somewhat stern-faced tour guide, that I was related to Alfred Deakin, second Prime Minister of Australia. I felt quite devastated when his interest bordered on apathy and his scepticism caused me to wonder about the validity of … Continue reading
