The Field Family Newsletter, Edition 24

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The FIELD Family Newsletter

24th Edition, November 2005, Edited by Dorothy Cefarin
Reprinted here with permission

Welcome to another addition of our Field Family Newsletter. Thanks to Pam Wilcox, Grace Schofield and Gwen Agnew for their contribution, we need all this information to keep going.

If this newsletter is to continue I need your stories on our relations, past and present… Births, Deaths and Marriages are important as those doing our Family Tree are then able to keep our records up to date. PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME
Dorothy Cefarin
24 Eggleton Street Blacktown 2148
E-mail: doff202@comcen.com.au

HELP.. HELP... HELP..

I STILL NEED YOUR HELP IN LOCATING THE ADDRESS OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:

• Lola Longworth (changed her e-mail)
• Len Morris
• Alan Williams
• Elvy Quirk
• Shirley Wilkinson
• George Tait
• Maureen Watson
• Patricia Watson
• F.A.Morrison

Len Morris’s newsletter was returned stating “left address/unknown”. He was at Tamworth, any clues?

Reminder: Colin Field has our family Tree on the internet for you to see.
www.pcug.org.au/~cfield/distantf/
David Rawsthorne also has our Family Tree on CDs for you to purchase for only $20.
David Rawsthorne PO Box 139. Lithgow 2790
Phone: 02 6353 1843
E-mail: daviddth@iinet.net.au

NOTE: This CD is no longer available from David

Some people have asked David how he gets to do all our family tree and put it on out website, here is his answer.

“I recently had a long phone chat with one of the Field descendants that receive this newsletter about my cemetery walks. He wanted to know how I prepare for the trip, the equipment I use, and my technique. Rather than simply email him, I thought I would kill two of the proverbial birds with the one hunk of gravestone (grin) and give a basic rundown via the newsletter.

Once I decide on a location to go, I will use maps and other on-line sources to pinpoint any cemeteries on the way. Why drive 200km each way to go to a cemetery for a few hours, when you can take a full day and visit a few others on the way. I have found many relatives graves by doing this.

Armed with a list of cemeteries, I then use my Family Tree Maker to create a number of custom reports. I start with a list of people that I know have died and been buried in a particular cemetery. I then add people that died in the same town and often neighbouring towns as well. I remove those that have been buried in other towns, leaving a list of people that are, and that could be, buried in a particular town.

From this list I fill usually print a simple alphabetical list of the surnames of the people in it. Rather than looking for 3 specific Morris, 4 Fields, and 1 Strickland, I just add the surnames to the list. When I enter the cemetery, I read over the list a few times, then begin. Sturdy shoes, long pants, a hat and sunglasses are a must, as is a supply of cool drinks, especially in hot weather.

I use a Fuji Finepix S7000 digital camera with a 256MB XD card and a 128MB Compact Flash Card as a “Backup”. One of these days I’ll get a larger card to allow more photographs before I have to return to the car to unload the cameras to the laptop. I also carry 2 or 3 spare sets of AA NiMH batteries in the car as well, but I usually manage 300+ photographs on a set of batteries before they need replacing.

Using my digital camera, each time I see a surname that is on my list I will photograph the grave and move on. It is easier to sort through 20 or 30 photographs at home, than realising that at the cemetery 400km away, the “George Morris” you did not take a photograph of was actually a relation and you did not realise at the time!

As you do this a few times it becomes relatively easy. I often repeat the less-common names over in my head as I walk, and look at each grave in turn to see if the name is on my list. After 10 or 15 minutes you only occasionally have to refer to the list, as you memorise the names you are looking for. If a name is not on the list, but sounds “familiar” then I photograph it as well. The hardest bit is remembering where you are up to, especially if the rows are offset, or uneven as is often the case in older cemeteries.

When I return home from a trip I then open up the family tree and the pictures. Swapping between them, I look up each of the people in the picture. If they are a match then I move the picture to a folder name “????? Match”, where???? is the cemetery name or location (Don’t forget the state name too). The ones that don’t match are not discarded, but instead are placed in a separate folder that indicates they are no match. I occasionally go through these a year or so later to see if I have since added some line of the family that I may have taken photographs of some time before. When I did this recently for the photographs in Forbes, I found another 8 graves I did not realise I had.

For the webpage, I then copy these match pictures, resize them to a set size, and save them in a separate directory for each cemetery. A detail of the person and a link to the photograph is added to the web pages, and the page is uploaded to the server. The sorting, converting and manually adding the details to the webpage can be quite time-consuming, especially if there are a large number of photographs, so I usually set aside a day or more to do it after a trip.

On a large trip it is not uncommon for me to take 500 photographs, but end up with only 50 or 60 “Matches”, so you can understand the need for a large storage card for the camera (Or a laptop as I usually use). I have had some trips where I have taken 200+ photographs in a number of different cemeteries, come home and found not a single match. Then again, after spending the day walking by yourself in a cemetery, muttering names under your breath, often being cautiously watched (or spoken to) by mourners is probably a good idea too.

I hope this gives you an idea of the work behind the family tree site, and the associated grave photographs. It is sometimes hard, exhausting and tedious work, but it is always enjoyable, especially when you receive a simple thank-you from a visitor to the site.

Personally I think the work and effort David has put into this is absolutely fantastic. I was brought up in Condobolin and my family are all buried out there. I rarely get to visit any more but I can now view their graves and reminisce. Thanks to David.

THE LACHLANDER

Tuesday October 11th, 2005

OLD SCHOOL MEMORIES REKINDLED AT DERRIWONG

“The small village of Derriwong came alive with a school reunion and a “Back to Derriwong” weekend as Graham Scott reports.

It is reminiscent of the times when Derriwong was a thriving little town, with its own football and cricket teams.

A reunion dinner was held at the Condobolin bowling club on Saturday night with a plaque unveiled at Derriwong on Sunday, to recognise the old school.

The “Back to Derriwong” weekend has been in the pipeline for many months and the successful weekend was a credit to Dawn Jones and June Hassan, the two main organisers.

“We were overwhelmed by the response. Invitations were sent out and we had over 80 at our dinner on Saturday night. It was a great response for a small village like Derriwong,” Mrs. Jones said.

“Sunday was a great success, with about 200 people gathering at Derriwong and watching the monument being opened,” Mrs. Hassan added.

The Derriwong School has a long history and goes back to the time when the Kingsland family purchased the Duffy’s farm, about five miles east of Condobolin. They then took up a selection of 200 acres at Derriwong, fronting the Goobang Creek.
The Kingsland’s irrigated on this block with a method called horsewalk. The horses were driven around in a circle, to supply the power to turn a wheel and a complex system of buckets, which transferred water from the creek into the irrigation drain. As the system modernised with a steam engine and pump, the Kingsland’s acquired more land and established a dairy.

From their property, the children could attend two half time schools a few miles apart. This was found to be unsatisfactory, so they built a school close to their homestead and boarded the teacher without charge. According to the Department of Education records, this school operated from 1893 and closed in 1900.

A new school was built near the railway siding at Derriwong. This operated as a provisional school from October 1904 until March 1907 and was then a public school until its closure in June 1949. The old school weatherboard building was later removed and now what is left of it, is still standing on Garry Wallace’s property ‘Avalon’, a few kilometres down the road.

The honour of unveiling the plaque on the school monument was left to former student Laura Wunsch. A sprightly 95 years old Mrs. Wunsch recalled some of her early days at the school. “When I walked through the gate, down the long path covered with a passion creeper to the Derriwong School in 1919, little did I think I would be gazing over the same area in 86 years time.

My first teacher was a Mr. Ferguson and then came Mr. Bennett, a single man who later married Miss Mary Dunne and they settled on a little farm just west of the village. Mr. Bennett would have all us children fall in line of a morning and then march around the school ground and then into the building for our lessons. At lunch time Mr. Bennett allowed us to walk the half mile to the post office to collect our mail on mail days.

I must pay tribute to the school teachers of those days. One teacher taught six different grades, in the one room at the same time. I remember Mr. Bennett was a very clever footballer and played with the Derriwong team. They journeyed to Fifield and Trundle to play matches and when the games were over all the players would go to the local pub for an hour or two before returning home.

I remember one night they pulled up at Mr. Bennett’s farm gate and it was pitch dark. The gate was open and he exploded about the so and so who left the gate open.A vision appeared at the end of the gate and low and behold it was his darling wife holding the gate open for him to return,” Mrs. Wunsch told the crowd. A plaque has been mounted on a rock, outside the old school gate. This was then unveiled by Mrs. Wunsch, to the generous applause of all who gathered to watch.

The plaque reads:-
Derriwong Public School.
The plaque is to recognise Derriwong Public School.
Erected on this sight 1904 – 1949 and previous district schools 1889 – 1900 for the contribution of education to the children of early settlers of the Derriwong District.
Unveiled by Mrs. Laura Wunsch ( nee Cunningham) on 9th October 2005 as part of the School Reunion and Back to Derriwong celebrations 6th and 9th October 2005.

After the official opening, many of the former students made a nostalgic trip tp see the remnants of the old building. One of these was former Condobolin resident Dick Oxley. Mr.Oxley said that he had mixed feelings about the time that he had in the school. “I went to school there from 1924 to 1933 and I was in trouble a fair bit of the time, of course it was never my fault. When I left, I told the teacher what I thought of him and said I would never set foot back in the school again. Years later I went out to do some shearing and crutching fir Bob Paton. They had moved the old school out there and turned it into a sheering shed, so I had to set my foot back in there after all,” Mr. Oxley recalled.It was a weekend for all involved and many a yarn went around about a bygone era.

Yes that is where I grew up and attended school for the first 10 years of my life. Above is an article taken from the local newspaper THE LACHLANDER at Condobolin. Below is a photo of the former pupils that I went to school with. Laura Wunsch, who unveiled the plaque, is in our Field family and went to school with my mother Vera Broom who married Albert Pirie. Her late husband Leo was best man at my parents wedding. I never new we were related until a few years ago when studying our heritage.

Dawn Madden married Neville Jones the son of Ivan and Ellen (nee Cunningham) also in our Field family tree. Seems we have relatives everywhere, it’s great.

Former Pupils of Derriwong School

Left to Right Back Row: B. Mann, Kevin Parnaby, Toby Bailey, Noel Bailey, Gary Wellington, Pip Wallace, Garry Wallace, Frank Wunsch, Beryl Field (nee Dawson), Brian Parnaby, Dot Carey (nee Ferguson), B. Wunsch, Neville Jones, John Hassan, Ron Parnaby and Doug Parnaby

Fron:t Jean Munro, Nancy McDonald (nee Parnaby), Nona Munro, Ruth Spears (nee Bailey), Lorna Ross (Nee Pirie), Tom Dennis, Gwen Agnew (nee Pirie), Laura Wunsch (nee Cunningham), Bernice Burton (nee Went) and Dick Oxley.

WEDDING

Connellan – McMillan

Glorious sunshine crowned the wedding ceremony of Miss Lola McMillan, second eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. McMillan, and Mr. James Connellan, which was celebrated by, Rev. R. O. Bodiy (Rockhampton) at St. George’s Church of England Theodore on 9th August, 1954.

The radiant bride was escorted to the church by her father. Her gown of lace and magnolia satin was designed with a tight fitting bodice, Elizabethan collar and long sleeves which were peaked over the hands. The voluminous skirt opened in front to reveal a panel of frilled tulle and extended into a train. Her billowy tulle veil was mounted by a coronet of orange blossom and she carried a shower bouquet of arum lilies, roses and maiden hair fern arranged with white satin ribbons.

Lola made her dress and all her bridal party’s dresses, as well as her mothers and James’s mother’s outfits.

Mrs. Grace Schofield, the bride’s sister, was matron of honour and was frocked in lemon embroidered organza. The slim-fitting bodice was trimmed with small diamante buttons and the bouffant skirt was finished with a tailored belt. Ash added a dainty lemon organza Juliet cap adorned with pink and yellow flowers and she wore lemon nylon gloves and carried a bouquet of red roses and sweet peas.

Younger sister of the bride, Miss Esma McMillan, as bridesmaid, wore a becoming frock of mauve embroidered organza with a Juliet cap to match, which was trimmed with flowers of tulle. She added mauve nylon gloves and carried a pretty bouquet of flowers.

The little flower girl, Claire James, was frocked in pink embroidered organza fashioned on old world lines. She carried a basket of flowers.

Following the ceremony, 150 guests were entertained at a reception at the RSL Hall and were received by the mothers of the happy couple. Mrs. McMillan wore a blue grey embroidered faille frock with black accessories. The three-tiered wedding cake was iced by the bride and made by her mother.

The bridal couple are spending their honeymoon on a motor tour of the North. On returning they will make their home at Theodore.
-- Theodore Correspondent..

Thomas Stephen Higgins

Thomas Stephen Higgins third child of Thomas and Sophia Higgins.

Born: 26/12/1829
Died: 5/2/1865 aged 35 years and buried C. of E. portion of Forbes Cemetery.
Married: 23/3/1853 to Mary Ann Porter at “Bundaburra” Forbes.
Mary Born: 12/7/1836 at Bringelly.
Bapt: 7/8/1836 by Rev. Thos. Hassell
Married: 7/6/1866 To James Mulhall at Wowringajong, near Forbes.
Mary died: 19/9/1895 aged 59 years.

Biographical data.

Headstone - Forbes Cemetery.

Thomas Stephen Higgins died 5/2/1865 aged 35 years. Leaving wife Mary Ann Higgins and 4 children.

Vol 39/90 C. of E.

Thomas Higgins of Bundaburra, a bachelor and Mary Ann Porter of Bundaburra, spinster, were married at Bundaburra by Banns with consent of parents this 23rd day of March, 1853 by me:
This marriage was solemnized between us: Thomas Higgins P. P. Agnew
Mary A. Porter Minister
In the presence of:
James Collets )
Sophia Collets ) of Bundaburra

SAG – Card index

James Mulhall married widow maiden name Mary Ann Porter.

Forbes Advocate 16th September, 1921

Early Days of Forbes – Some Historical Matches - Racing. By Mr. Edward Taylor of ‘Woodbine” Forbes.
… “Don’t You Know” owned by Mr. Thomas Higgins was the champion horse of the district.

Births: - Forbes

Annie Mary Mulhall born Lambing Flat Road, 8 miles from Forbes in 1866.

The Sandy Creek Bushranger - by Edgar E. Penzig.

On page 103 of the above named book reference is made to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Higgins.

‘November 26, 1864. It was a Saturday when they arrived at the Dog and Duck Inn near Forbes, which was owned by Mr. Tom Higgins. While the bushrangers were having a few drinks, a reefer who was present made snide comments about all the revolvers Gilbert was armed with. Gilbert then threatened to shoot the man, but was prevented from doing so by Mrs. Higgins. The bandit then challenged the man to a fist fight, which ended with the minor being defeated. They then shouted a round of grog for all present and departed ….. The next day hall and his cohorts arrived at Young’s station at Bandon. They ordered and then ate a meal.\, and Hall and Dunn put their names down as subscribers to the Lachlan Races for five shillings each.”

Noah

One: Don’t miss the boat

Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three: Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.

Four: Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five: Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six: Build your future on high ground.

Seven: For safety’s sake travel in pairs.

Eight: Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Nine: When you’re stressed, float a while.

Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

“I think the woodpecker might have to go....”

I wish you and those you love a very blessed, peaceful and safe Christmas as you journey towards the birthday of our Blessed Saviour

Love Dorothy

‘JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON’