Category Archives: cemetery

The Sinking of the Sovereign: a family tragedy

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‘Mary, there is no hope for us now; we shall go to heaven together.’ These were the last words Robert Gore spoke to his wife, Mary, before they and their two young children drowned when the Sovereign, the steamer on which they were travelling to Sydney, sank off Stradbroke Island in March 1847.  Robert Gore was my great, great uncle and he and his wife, Mary, and two brothers and his widowed mother arrived in Sydney from Ireland on the … Continue reading

Grave Journeys

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By Jill Ball aka GeniAus My husband and I love to travel to distant lands where we enjoy visiting sites of historic interest or natural beauty. We don’t mind a dab of architecture either. While we often visit cemeteries, graveyards and memorial parks on our geneajourneys we also visit cemeteries for pleasure. Cemeteries tell so much about the life, history, and customs of the places we visit. The monumental masonry can be spectacular or quirky and the landscapes can range … Continue reading

What I’ve Learnt as a Taphophile.

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A what, I hear you ask? Put simply, a taphophile is someone who takes a keen interest in visiting cemeteries, looking at gravestones, who spends time recording epitaphs and taking photos. As a relatively new family historian of just over 5 years I have definitely become an avid taphophile visiting close to 40 cemeteries so far here and overseas in an effort to trace family, husband in tow to take photos, hold back long grass so I could record details … Continue reading

Achieving celebrity status – even if it is in a cemetery!

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Most of us go through life hoping that, after our death, we will be remembered in some way, even if only by our children and grandchildren. Some of us may achieve celebrity status or notoriety and buildings, memorials, parks or streets may be named in our honour to acknowledge those achievements, in our lifetime or perhaps shortly after our death. For others, the recognition may take even longer and the form it takes may not be quite what you would … Continue reading

Grave and Memorial Location Search

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by Sharyn Merkley Following your ancestor from cradle to grave inevitably ends in the search for their last resting place. Cemeteries also have stories to tell family historians. Visiting the grave or memorial of an ancestor you have spent days, or even years, researching can be an emotional experience. Historical cemeteries such as Toowong, South Brisbane and Lutwyche are quite large and, in the case of Toowong, very hilly! Don’t go on a hot day without a plan. I went … Continue reading