No news from Canberra

Well there is no news really but thought I should say hello. The girls and I are all well and I think very one knows that Hannah and Sam are expecting a baby in April.

I have been trying to catch up with Mark Myers while he is home but he is a busy boy so maybe I will just have to head to London to say hello!

Photos are for Meg, I was making mango chutney the other night while we were talking and Meg it tastes great I would like more chilli it had 10 in it but I do like lots of chilli.

Merry Christmas everyone travel safe and I hope we all catch up some where in 2012.
Belinda

At the recent school concert



At the recent school concert



This was a few months ago but the grass was very pretty too


Mark and Jett out front of my place this week
Jett looks to have grown an entire foot in the past year.

Mark and I



Mark and Jett out front of my place this week

Santa's coming soon, brace yourselve's...

Well it's only 7 days 'til Big Red arrives. Due to the global economy being in such a poor state he was running short on elves to build toys. Not even Santa is immune to the worlds declining financial abilities, Elves don't come cheap!

All is much the same at our house although we did have Mark here for a few nights over the past couple of weeks and it has been truly lovely to see him again. Some pictures I've loaded but they didn't come out too well but are viewable. They are up in Anna Bay at the moment, will be back here tomorrow.

Tony took the young'ns out shopping this morning so it was lovely and peaceful for me at home alone. A rare occasion to be sure but they're back now so it didn't last long :o/

I haven't done Christmas cards this year so apologies to all who have sent them to me, thank you though.

Aunty Kell, how are you? Uncle Peter? Aunt Mona I'm guessing you've been flat out with hampers etc? Beets the heck out of me how you do it, I cringe at having to make a banana cake (which I have to do today because I have two over ripe 'nana's there that must be used :o/

No news, same old washing, cleaning etc so I'll sign off and bid you all a wonderful christmas.

Love Sara XXXXX

A big load

I heard about this on the radio coming home from work but both Len and I were too lazy to drive to Grafton to have a look.
The massive load was 23 metres long, 5 meters wide and 150 tonne. It took two trucks to pull it and another two to push it.
It is a piece of mining equipment and was made in Coffs Harbour.
From Coffs it went to South Grafton, then to Tenterfield, then to Brisbane and from there it will make its way to Long Harbour CANADA.
Sorry about the poor quality of the photo but I scanned it from the local newspaper.

Belmore back online, FINALLY!

Hello family, I have not been logged on due to my internet being 'moved' from the 'spare' (junk) room into our bedroom. Tony emptied out the spare/junk room so he can gt it ready to move Hokey in there. He finally moved the computer desk into our room this week but because he gets physically sick whenever he exerts himself, it's taken a while to hook the internet up again.
Not enough cable to extend into the bedroom has also held things up but while the kids and I were at church this morning Tony went to the hardware store up the street and bought some cable which he connected to the existing cable and ran it along the exterior of the house to the front window and as of the past two hours I've been back online.
I DID try to login via my phone but the page wouldn't load.

I have been using my eliptical machine and 'running' in the mornings. Initially I was doing 3km's a day, then I bumped it up to 6km's but that soon started to wear thin so I was just running the 6km every second day. Sometimes jumping on to do the 3km's on the 'off' days. Last week I ran 9km's on Monday then 6km's on Wednesday.
It really does feel good to be able to get on and 'go to town', so to speak.

I have been doing hydrotherapy the past three weeks but this coming week will be my last as they only ran for 8 sessions. I've been doing this due to chronic pain down my left leg, front and back due to some wearing down of a 'disc' in my lower back which has caused some crushing of the nerves there. Something to that effect anyway. The hydro has been good and is a great form of exercise which is also why I have knocked back on the running.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Mark when he arrives later this week, another reason why Tony's been more focused on painting and readying Hokey's new room. He wants to make it ready so that Mark will have a room of his own when he gets here. We were going to buy a new bed for the room but Tony's decided to cut the bunk bed into two beds and put the bottom in Hokey's room while leaving the top in Bickies room. Much better idea.

We've been having a lot of trouble getting the kids to sleep alone in their own room at night. They never used to be afraid of the dark but the bloody TV shows they watch talk all about NOT being afraid of the dark and that has caused a reverse reaction with my two. It's going to be a hell of a time trying to separate them into their own rooms :o/ I don't mind them staying together for now, they're still only young'ns so should be able to get away with it.

Hokey and Ange' had their end-of-year performance on Thursday night and it all went really well, Ange got a bit 'stage struck' when her class was performing but they weren't too bad.

I try to vac' and mop a few times a week because this little shack gets so dirty so quickly. I won't work on the weekends though and with the kids bed lamp turned on underneath their bed at night, it highlights every hair and particle of dust and grit on the floor and it's horrid. I will get straight into it tomorrow.

When Tony was cleaning out the pool yard a few weeks back he found a red back spider under the pool ladder so put it in a jar for the kids to see and learn about. I decided to keep her so put some elasticised mesh over the top of the jar and secured it with a rubber band. I have been catching flies and other 'nibblies' for her to eat. She has rigged-up about 8 egg sacks since she's been in her jar and the kids and I watched as one of them hatched open the other day. Watched at least 50 little spiderlings 'pop' out of the sack so I removed the mesh and left them up high on a ladder rung overnight so the young'ns could spin out their silk and hitch a ride on the wind to find their new homes. Next day 'Liv (Olivia; kids named her. Mother-in-laws name was "Liviana {'Livia for short} Go figure :o/ ) was still in the jar with her remaining eggs so I put the mesh back and put her in a safe place.

Only two weeks of school left for the year and I am SOOooooo looking forward to it. I struggle to get organised in the mornings and more often than not end up arriving at school late. Tough, I do what I can :o/

Well I have no news and have only 'scanned' previous posts so will load this one now then go back and read everyone elses.
Take care family and love to all,

Sara XXXXX

Christmas message from Mona

Just a little food for thought at this busy time of year.

BLESSINGS TO YOU


PEACE BE WITH YOU

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in this honour and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated.. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me.. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago.. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations wereexquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .. and I wanted to be with them and share their table.. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party withoutmaking any noise. I went in and stood in a corner.. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party were in his honor! At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no-one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has everimagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements.. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party. See you soon. I Love you!

Jesus

London calling...

The Boleyn Ground - From West End Upper Stand

In need of a haircut I think...

I sit here at my desk, listening to the frantic noises of a Financial Markets in meltdown, watching my clock tick down till CX252 lifts off from Heathrow (currently 264992 seconds to go). My eyes are about to fall out of my head from exhaustion; I've probably averaged 4 hours sleep for the last two weeks, just from burning the candle at both ends & the middle. Still have loads of little tasks to tick off before I can relax & I know that probably won't happen till I'm ensconced in my seat with a double shot of Chivas Regal in my hand. Not anything of interest to speak of going on, apart from work & the occasional jaunt down to Upton Park to watch some 2nd division football (West Ham United - WHU), life has been pretty mundane for the most part. The football is something that I resisted for the longest time but it is so entrenched in the culture of this country, its hard to stay impervious to its pull. The team that I go to see were demoted from the Premier League & now play at a level equivalent to Wentworthville or Sutherland in Sydney, but with 35000 passionate supporters screaming the rafters down. You have to go down 6 or 7 different divisions before the crowd attendances reflect those of the 2nd division leagues clubs back home. I attend these matches with my manager & his mates, who are all rabid WHU fans, as are a good many of the people that work on the broking floor here. The day after a match can be quite amusing, either loaded with joy & happiness after a win, or as dark as some of the moods that overtake me if they lose. People can get so wrapped up in their team that it impacts so many aspects of their lives. When I'm not actually going to the ground to watch it live, I head down to a local pub where there is a good many punters who follow Liverpool in the Premier League (my team). That also is quite a vocal crowd & makes for a good afternoon's entertainment, if I have no housework left to do.

The cooler weather is starting to settle in, though probably a good 10 degrees warmer than the Canadians at the moment, so it will be nice to enjoy some warmer climes for a change. This will be my first hot Christmas in 13 years & I'm just disappointed I couldn't stay a little longer. I understand that Stewart is going the other way, off to Whistler to sample the white stuff for a couple of weeks. I mentioned to him that if he ever finds his way over here, I'll take him to my stomping ground in Sud Tyrol, to experience the Dolomites of Alta Badia. One lift pass covers 1200 kms of ski runs & the chair lift / cable car capacity is something like 200,000 people an hour. The longest I've ever had to queue was about 5 mins at the start of the day, then you are off & flat out trying to find more than a few people together at any one time. The only place you see a crowd is in the pub at lunchtime (262761 seconds to go).

I was hoping to spend some time with Jett when I'm back in Australia but for the 2 & 1/2 weeks he is in Sydney, he'll be with his brother for most of it. I get him for 3 days the 2nd week I'm there, then from Christmas eve onwards. I assume we'll spend that in Anna Bay but I think his mother is going to be in Sydney as well & she may want to see him on Christmas day, just not sure. Anyway my plan was to borrow (or steal) a car & take him out to Bourke & beyond. I wanted to spend a night & a day out at Jacko's place on Wampra, just to give Jett a chance to drive around in Jacko's old landrover, maybe do a little shooting, & just experience the country I grew up in. From what I've heard, the land doesn't look anything like I remember it. Something to do with a mysterious substance falling from the sky. Can't imagine what that would be. Then from there I wanted to drive back through Walgett & Narrabri & down through Tamworth. I have a Japanese/Kiwi friend who packed up life in the City & moved his family out on a farm near there. I will probably only be able to spare a couple of hours with him, before making my way back to Sydney to deliver Jett into his brother's care again. That is the plan but we all know what happens to the best laid of them.

Anyway, I guess I had better make an effort and look like I'm actually working for a change. By my reckoning I've only got 20 more years & then I can put my feet up like Kenny. That would be nice.

All the best family & anybody I don't get to see while I'm In Country;

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

TO KELL!!!!!!!!

KELL !!!!!!! DO YOU NOT READ THE BLOG!!!!! I AM THE LETTER JUST UNDERNEATH YOURS! THE LAST ONE TO WRITE BEFORE YOU!!! DON"T BE PICKING ON ME!!!

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO WRITES OR NOT IF YOU DON"T READ "A FEW OF THE LAST LETTERS...........Just thought I would refresh your memory...cheers Bernice xx

I just wrote a long note, "posted" it, but I think it went down to Hell, as I can't find it now!! I rang Mo, to see where I went wrong. She has put me on the right track again, so hope it works. I KNOW I only have problems, because "someone" out "there" doesn't like me!! Happens every time I try to log on!! I wish I had a "Frank" like Mos' then I would be set for life!! Anyhow, Mo

has solved it for me this time, but I have no news!! It is VERY cold, & my old body REALLY

does NOT like cold!! It is far too early!! Talked to Kate & Charlotte today, & Mo of course. Talked to Steve a couple of nights ago. All well with family members.

The family treated me to a night at the "Dinner Theatre" for my birthday. It was a wonderful evening. All family attended, & had a great time. It is an "outdoors" theatre, so one can watch the stars, both on the stage, & in the sky!!! Was one of the best birthdays I have had, with my 3 childa & their spouses. Truely a lovely evening.

I was going to go to Whitefish for a few days, but decided it was FAR too far for an old lady to travel alone, & through the mountains to boot, so decided to stay home. Not a REAl good decision, as I have lost about 20 lbs. in fluid, being by myself and all!! I think I "got it all out of my system" so decided it was a good time to write home!!

Have a lot of "home work" from church from yesterday, but havn't touched it yet. Have to

"get ready" first. It is all basic stuff, but still needs a lot of planning. I just get "bogged down"

with stuff that no one else will do. Then I hate everyone!! My fault, but I just can't leave something that no one else will do. I can probably blame Mum or Dad for being the way I am.

I know Mo is the same, or else she will "cajole" someone else to do it!!

I may have mentioned that I HATE winter!! It is just above freezing now, will go down to -6

tonight. People have dug everything out of their gardens now. Just as well, as it would freeze

if it were still in the ground.

I wonder who is planning on a trip over here ? I know Lin was going to come, but perhaps she has been, & is back home again. It was great seeing patrick & Jane "way back when". I do hope they had a good time, & I feel they would have made sure it was a good time.

There is just NO news, so will call it quits for now. As soon as I "post" this, I will think of half a dozen things I was going to say!!

Ken & Bernice, would be great to see a few words from you on the blog. It is just such an easy way to keep in touch. Thanks again Belinda Jane, for setting this up for us all. Now YOU

should log on, & tell us all your news. The girls too, of course.

Anyway, I'll call it quits for now. Hope others are planning on "blogging" in the VERY near future. Love to all. Kell

Hi from Bernice...28/11/11

Hello all I have a moment...

Lisa so sorry to hear about Ron's Dad....I know how close you both were...glad it was quick for the old darling...no lingering sickness...I pray that for my Mum who I worry about every day now as she is going down hill.....

On a lighter note your pics of Wooli are great looks like you all had a great time!! so happy for all of you as you all need it! No one parties like The Payton's Aka Egans"....such a great family.

We went to Canberra on the w/end for a wedding...it was great..stayed with Belinda it was so good to catch up personally and she was a great host! thank you Belinda if you read this..

Well Ken has been retired for about 4 weeks now...he truly doesn't know what to do with himself...but I am sure it will get better as time goes by...he went to Sydney to day with a mate to tow a car back...keep him busy he should be home soon...
I think I told you all we lost our dog Kellie we put her to sleep..I miss her so...Ken took me to buy another Pup last week...He is a great Little fellow Blue cattle dog..we called him Cody' I will post a pic later.

Mark Myers if you read this so looking forward to you "Coming home' be home in Aussie on the 5thDec..Mark, Belinda said she would like to catch up with you maybe if you contact she may go up to Anna Bay.

Meg hasn't been on I have been waiting for her to tell you all her great news ..she has bought a new home..we are so happy for she deserves it....probaly too busy settling in..Good on ya Meg.

Well Ken is buying me a new Commodore..it arrives this week I think I have been without a car for about 5 weeks now as I sold my old one to my nephew..I'm going crazy....

Right ...Ken has just arrived home its near 9.oclock so I wil get off and post pics and write again later...Hope all are well love from us both .. Bernice xx

Fun Times with the Payton's at Wooli

Greeting All,

Looks like I am the only one on the blog of late. Have gone from one extreme to the other with family and emotions. From the sad time with Ronny's family, a week later it was fun times with the Payton family. I think I said it in the last blog, but Ronny and I are on leave for two weeks . We rented a house right on the beach at Wooli, the closest coastal town near Grafton, about 40 minutes away. On the weekend, we rented another house 2 doors down, and everyone came. (Mum and Dad, Jane & Patrick and all the kids, plus Anthea's boyfriend, Stewart and the dogs, Bruce and Zappa). It was a blast. All gathered on the Friday night and the boy, did the beverages flow! It was a very late night/early morning, some even staying up to see the sun rise. Needless to say, it was a quiet Saturday morning! The weather was grey with a few showers, but that suited all the hangovers and everyone took it easy. A few walks on the beach, frizbee and scrabble, and it was time to drink and eat again! Saturday night was not so loud, but it was a lot of fun. Mum had a great time (as we all did), but she could relax knowing that everyone was there to look after dad and she could switch off.

Sunday the weather and tides were perfect. We loaded up the boat and Ronny ferried everyone over to the big sand dune. It was a very steep climb up, but the views are breathtaking. (Mum and Dad stayed at the bottom for obvious reasons!) Then we just swam and drank and ate - again! Dad sat in a chair on dry land, but mum loved it sitting with her feet in the water.

It was a magic weekend. Everyone had a brilliant time. Zappa and Bruce had a ball too!

It was the last time we are all together this year, as Anthea goes to Ireland for Christmas and New Year (her boyfriend comes from there). It is a Hunt Christmas for us, so Ronny and I won't be there either.

Ronny and I have another week here at Wooli, and it is brilliant.

Kenny and Bernice, hope the wedding went well and that you caught up with Belinda.

The beach and beers are calling, better go, hope you enjoy the photos!

Love Lisa




Friday Night, at the start of the gathering.

Climbing the sand dune was hard work! Ronny and Jane here.

Unloading the parental units

The Egan family - an ugly bunch!

Jane, Stewart and Lisa, at the top of the sand dune.

The whole tribe at the bottom of the sand dune, on the Wooli River.

R.I.P Ronald Bruce Hunt 10/10/23 - 11/11/11

Hello family,
We have had a very sad time with the passing of Ronny's dad on 11/11/11. We went for our usual afternoon visit on Thursday 10/11/11 and he was fine. We got the call at 6.30 the following morning, to say he died of a heart attack, just after 6am. It was very quick and painless, and everyone is saying that it was the way to go. On the Tuesday before, he became a great grandfather to a little girl, Asha Emily Hunt and he said that he could die a happy man, but we did not realise he meant to go so soon. He was 88 and had a full life, but his passing has left a gap in our lives. It was a huge shock to us, and it hit Ronny pretty hard.
The funeral was last Friday, and it was a lovely service. Ronny wrote a beautiful eulogy and a friend played the last post, as he was a WWII veteran. Mum,dad, Jane and Anthea were there for us, as well as Ronny's siblings.
Coincidentally, Ronny and I have the next two weeks off, on long service leave. We are staying at Wooli on the beach. The break will do us good as we pass the nursing home on our way to and from work, and it chokes us up to drive past at this point. Ronny was close to his dad and we are just letting the tears flow. Better to let the grieving process follow its course.
Hope all is well with you,
love Lisa

R.I.P. Ronald B. Hunt 10/10/23 - 11/11/11

Hello family,

We have had a very sad time with the passing of Ronny's dad on 11/11/11. We were with him for our daily visit on Thursday afternoon, 10/11/11, and he was fine. We got the call at 6.30 Friday morning to say that he had passed away just after 6am. He was 88 years old and had a full life, but it still hurts. It was a heart attack, and it was instant. It was a blessing that he did not suffer. As everyone said, it was the way to go. Only on the Tuesday before, he had become a great grandfather to a baby girl, Asha Emily Hunt. He said on that day, that he could die a happy man now, but we did not realise that he meant to go a few days later.

The funeral was in Grafton last Friday, and it was a lovely service. Ronny wrote a beautiful eulogy and a good friend of ours played the last post, as Ronny's dad was a WWII vetran. Mum, Dad, Jane and Anthea were there for us, as well as Ronny's siblings.

Coincidently, Ronny and I had booked two weeks long service leave for these next two weeks and we are staying at Wooli, on the beach. We got here Saturday. It is very fortunate as it will break our afternoon routine for visiting his dad at the Nursing Home. As we drive past the Nursing Home on our way to and from work, this break is needed. Ronny has taken it very hard as he was very close to his dad. The tears have not stopped, but it is better to let

For Mona

These are two quilts a member of our group made.

The royal Visit is the centerpiece for the quilt below

The lady who did these is in her 70's and has been sewing most of her life.

She has used doilies from her great grandmother, her grandmother, her mother

and even some she made herself.

The fabric that was used to sew the doilies onto was old family damask tablecloths.

She told me today that she still has enough doilies at home to make another quilt

but is doubtful she will do another.

This one is actually the BACK of another quilt. She had all the old bags at home and didn't know what to do with them so sewed them together and here is the results.

I love both quilts as they have a real story to tell

and what a fantastic way of preserving the past.

Marjie Babe will be blogging soon!

Hi,
Just a quicky. Mum bought a lap top the other day. It will be a few weeks before the internet is set up, but she is ready and willing to learn. (To turn off the computer, she just thought she would push the button, but if that didn't work, she thought she would just pull the plug. She is still learning!)
Don't hold your breath, but she will be on line soon!
stay tuned,
cheers,
Lisa

Thanks Belinda

Hi thanks belinda I'll try edit next time..I emailed you Re Canberra trip..thanks again..xx

Hi Bernice

Hey Bernice
I just fixed the spaces in your sentences, it has some thing to do with your images. You can always go back in and edit your posts if you want to.
No news from Canberra just checking in and having a read and a catch up.
x Belinda

Bernice

Why are there "BIG SPACES in between my sentences???? I didn't do it?

Hello from Bernice 3/11/11

Nathalie is the Ghost

Hi all hope you are all good......we are fine ..Ken has retired...so whole change of life style for us..hope he enjoys it ..he deserves it..

Sad news we had to put our beloved dog Kellie to sleep last week she was going downhill so fast Blind,deaf, bad leg , among other things it was sad to watch her and selfish of us to keep her alive..I miss her so tho.

Sara thank you for birthday wishes had a great Halloween as usual...big day..then Melbourne cup next day another big day so tired from it all hows things for you.

Belinda I will ring you soon ..re our trip to Canberra...just trying to organize ourselves..

I will try and put a few Halloween pics up as ken wants computer and I will write again later..bye love Bernice xx

Sara ...or someone how do you put multi pics on the blog i tried to put a few more but it wouldn't work so had to do these individual which is a nuisance....

Briefly Belmore 31/10/11

Hello family, I have no news to report. My days are spent cleaning and doing all the usual 'Home duties' as 'housework' is called these days...

I did have Mum here for a week which was too short. It was lovely to see her and the kids did so enjoy her being here also.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BERNICE, hope you have a lovely Halloween party. All the best :)

It's nigh on lunch time and I need to go to the bank so I'm going to bolt so I might hopefully beat the lunch hour rush.

Beautiful pics of Wendy's family and the sweet little addition to the family.

Love to all,

Sara xxxxx

Pilot Mound checking in at last!

Morning all. Yes, we are home, all is well. I haven't been able to check in, get too emotional, then decided to take the proverbial bull by the tail.....couldn't log on!!! Have had a serious time getting on, and tonight it just came straight up, and I didn't sign in or anything!! Hope it posts.
We are heading for Pincher at first light tomorrow...that being about 7-30 am, or if the promised fog eventuates, maybe later!
I have so many 'Thank you' notes to make, but will do it when we get back, along with comments on the notes on the blog....SOOOOOOOO good to have people dropping in!!! Much love to all. Mona

Canberra here again

Just a quick note to say hi and to Wendy and little Dexter how you have grown and look wonderful. I think we need a family get together as the family is growing and I for one would like to meet our new additions.

No news but Meggy, how one can procrastinate when one does not want to write selection criteria is amazing! I am doing lots of procrastinating. But I am getting there slowly. i am like you and just have been so lucky to get jobs without all this interview stuff. But times have changed.

Hope everyone is well. Belinda x

Wendys lot

From our screwed up face little boy.... to our chubby cheeked fighter.

From our spread eagled breeched baby.... to our little kicker.

And from the nervous, scared and anxious family.... to a more relaxed and happy family.

Sarah - Nanna Payt's mum

My great, great grandmother

Sarah Ann Bridget Moore – later Baker.

(9/4/1889 – 16/4/1953)

Lawrence and Mary’s girls were all quite
different from each other in appearance. Amy was very tall (5 feet 10 inches) with light brown hair and fair
skin. She had greenish hazel eyes. Sarah was almost as tall as Amy with a full
figure. Her eyes were probably grey. The other girls were several inches
shorter. Kate had dark brown or black
hair, hazel eyes and a very small waist. Maude was as small, with long, dark hair. She had a 16 inch waist.

Sarah was a very modest person. In her teens she was thrown from a horse onto
a jagged stump and injured her buttocks. She had gone into what she thought was an empty room to put on some ointment. She was so intent on watching the door to
make sure no one came in while she had her skirt lifted that she failed to
notice her father had come in before her and was sitting on the bed. He coughed to announce his presence and she
was so embarrassed she ran away.

Sarah and Herbert Seymour (Bert) Baker were
married at her father’s house in Goodooga on 12 August 1905. She was 16 years old. Sarah’s children included: Amy Edna Mary
(Edna); Charlotte Cicily (Lottie – Nanna Payt); Herbert Henry (Harry); Merlean
Sylvia; John Lawrence (Laurie); Sylvester Clyde (Clyde) and Cynthia.

Lottie (Nanna Payt) was born on 3 August 1907.

One night, in 1915 – let’s say, Bert went to
Sarah’s sister Amy’s house, and asked her to go and get Sarah. He said he had been set up on a cattle
stealing charge, and they had to leave that night for Queensland. He was unable to return home because his own
house was too close to the police station.

(What a great story!)

He regularly sent money to Sarah, who stayed in
Goodooga, where she shared a house with her mother, Mary.

Bert wrote on a postcard to his niece on 3 July
1915: “I saw some of your uncles yesterday. Dick hasn’t got a beard yet but all the others look like bush rats. Frank’s beard is red. They only had about ¾ of a mile of fence to
put up and bore and about 3 miles to wire and then they will start a horse
paddock. I haven’t got a beard. I shave now. I look too grizzly with a beard”.

(It’s incredible to think

that these words were written

by my great, great grandfather!)

Nanna Payt said Bert drew a block of land,
probably near Morven in Queensland, and agisted stock on it. He built a mud hut out of ant hills and
wanted Sarah and the family to come and join him. She did not, probably because she had been
urged against it by one of Bert’s sister’s who considered life there would be
too hard, with no school and little food. The property was later bought by one of Bert’s sisters. (I wonder if it was the one who told Sarah
not to go...)

Bert took up droving and managed properties
around Hughenden.

Bert died on 18 August 1951 after being knocked
off his bike. He was buried in St George
cemetery. Sarah died at Bathurst
Hospital on 16 April 1953 and was buried at Bathurst.

Now we are up to Nanna Payt –

Charlotte Baker...

Could someone finish the story?

Convict Lawrence's Grandson

My great, great, great grandfather Lawrence

was born on the 18^th of June,

in either 1844 or 1845.

(This Lawrence is the grandson

of our convict Lawrence.)

He died on the

28^th of November in 1924.

It seems he was born in Newtown.

This Lawrence was a little elusive

and has caused some headaches

for our researcher, Melanie O’Flynn.

(And not just because

of name confusion...

Lawrence married a Mary,

just like his grandfather! )

It seems this Lawrence

filled in forms using

a slightly different name each time.

(Makes me wonder

what he was trying to hide!)

There may have been a

family scandal or argument,

because he doesn’t seem

to have had much connection

with the other members

of the family in Ilford.

(Of course, this could be

absolutely wrong – but I love

the thought of a

good old-fashioned scandal

in the 1840’s and 1850’s!)

Once Lawrence married Mary Anderson,

on the 5^th of June 1869,

he was traceable again.

They married at the Police Office

in South West Queensland – at St George.

(The fact that he was married

at a Police Office

suggests that he hadn’t

been changing his name

to evade capture for criminal activity!)

Lawrence was 24 when he married

and Mary was 19.

Great, great, great grandmother Mary

was unable to write her name

on her marriage certificate.

(There is information on Mary’s family –

which I can write about later.)

Lawrence worked as a labourer

and a stockman.

He became a selector

when he took up “Dhuroo”,

a block of land on Brenda Station.

(June used to talk to me

about Brenda Station!)

Lawrence and Mary had eleven children

and only lost two as babies.

Their eldest child was a son.

He was aptly named Lawrence.

He was born in St George.

The next five children were born

in different places, suggesting

that the family moved around

while Lawrence worked as a stockman.

The last five children were born

at “Dhuroo”, on Brenda Station,

on the Culgoa River near Goodooga

in northern New South Wales.

The baby of the family

was born on the 9^th of April in 1889,

when her mother, Mary,

was 40 years old.

At the time, Lawrence

was working as a labourer.

The baby was apparently christened

Ann but was known as Sarah –

Sarah Ann Bridget Moore.

Sarah was Nanna Payt’s mother.

Thanks to Nanna Payt,

there are stories about life on Dhuroo...

stories about Sarah –

my great, great grandmother

and stories about

Sarah’s mother, Mary.

More to come...

Again... Thanks to Melanie
O’Flynn for her incredible research and dedication. Because of her, we know our family.

Great, Great, Great Grandmother Mary

My great, great, great

grandmother Mary Moore

(Mary married Lawrence. Because these memories and stories come from Nanna Payt, they are about
her mother and grandmother more than her grandfather Lawrence, who seems to
have been away much of the time.)

Sarah was very young when the famous flood of 1890 hit.

This flood was remembered over a wide area of
Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales as one of the highest floods
in the Darling system since European settlement.

Brenda Station alone lost 26 000 sheep.

Lawrence had taken his dray to pick up supplies
and because of the heavy condition of the country following the rain; the trip
took longer than expected. The flood in
the Culgoa arrived while he was away. The house was on one sand hill and their animals on the other, both
surrounded by water, and Amy, Sarah’s sister, who was about 12 at the time, had
to wade through chest deep water to milk the cows. The family was left with very little to eat,
except for flour and a dish of rendered fat. When Lawrence returned, the first thing he did was to set up camp and
bake a damper. After a while on reduced rations,
this was very welcome.

The Aborigines used to stop at “Dhuroo” on their
way to Goodooga from a big camp. Mary
and the younger children could speak with them in their language, Murrawarri. (Today,
having lost so many Australian Aboriginal languages, I’m so proud that my
great, great, great grandmother could speak an Aboriginal language!)

Later, when Mary was living in Goodooga, Nanna
Payt remembers Mary sitting on the verandah every Thursday and speaking to the
Aborigines in their own language while they waited for the policeman to issue
vouchers for their rations.

Mary used to spend a lot of time sitting and
talking to an Aboriginal woman called Kitty who was employed by Sarah to help
with housework. Nanna Payt recalled that
when Sarah engaged Kitty’s services from the police she was told she was not
expected to provide meals, but Sarah shared whatever food the family had –
bread and fat, golden syrup, plum jam and “a limited piece of meat sometimes,
mostly goat”.

The Moores left “Dhuroo” and moved to Goodooga,
probably in the early 1900’s. Sarah was
married in 1905 at her father’s home in Goodooga.

As an old lady, Mary lived with her daughter Sarah. Although the house was very small, it was
comfortable; the men had nailed boards over the joins in the rounded timber
walls to give the walls a smoother finish, and Sarah’s husband Bert had lined
the walls of the sitting room with floral floorcloth to resemble wallpaper.

“Granny Moore” had a little room where she slept
and kept her few possessions (e.g. the boy’s war medals and things they had
sent home from overseas) in a little wooden box in the corner. In later life, Mary had learned to sign her
name and read.

Sarah Payton remembers Mary, her mother, as being
kind and quiet – not shy, just didn’t talk much. She was short (about 5 foot 3) and round, and
she could only shuffle about because of her rheumatism. She had white hair down past her shoulders
and liked to sit outside while Nanna Payt combed it.

Mary died at the house in Goodooga on 9 March
1923 and was buried in the Church of England section of the local cemetery.

When Lawrence was living in Goodooga he used to
bathe up to 5 or 6 times a day at the artesian bore head, apparently to relieve
rheumatism. He used to rise early and go
down and soak until breakfast time, and would go back after breakfast and again
at lunch and, if it was light enough, after tea. He was a tall, thin, white man who rarely
spoke to the children, or even his wife.

When Lawrence returned, after being away for many
years, he was suffering from dropsy and had to keep both arms bandaged because
of fluid seeping from his skin. These
bandages had to be changed and washed frequently.

Lawrence died on the 28^th of November
1924. He was buried the next day at
Thallon cemetery. He was 81.

Taken
from “Lawrence Moore Of “Dhuroo”, son of Daniel” – Notes Compiled for the
descendants of Lawrence Moore (1845 – 1924), compiled by Melanie O’Flynn in
2005.

My Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather - Daniel

Daniel was Convict Lawrence’s second son.

He was born in Ireland in 1811...

Or, at least...

between 1811 and 1813.

(What’s a year or two?!)

He travelled to Australia

on the Thames in 1826

with his mother, Mary

and his brother John.

In 1828, 17 year old Daniel

was apprenticed to a blacksmith

in Sydney’s George Street.

The first of Daniel and Margaret’s

children were born in Maitland.

Their next child was born

at Paterson’s River.

He also worked at

Brandon and Abbotsford.

By the time our next Lawrence

was born, in 1845,

Daniel was living in Sydney again.

Soon after Lawrence was born,

Daniel moved to Mudgee.

By 1860, Daniel settled in Ilford

(luckily – the moves were making me dizzy!).

He was a blacksmith,

on a village block he had purchased

on the 7^th of May 1860.

His brother, Michael,

owned an inn in the area.

Daniel and Margaret’s children were:

Daniel (born in 1835),

Mary (born around 1837),

Ellen (born around 1840),

Catherine (born around 1842) &

Lawrence (born around 1844).

There were another two sons

and two daughters,

but they were not living

at the time of Daniel’s death

and nothing is known about them.

Only Daniel’s, Mary’s and Lawrence’s

births were listed in the

NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages index,

suggesting our Daniel was not

a stickler for formalities.

There is no other information

in the Family Book –

which just proves that the

convict stories are more interesting!

Daniel died in Ilford on 15^th July 1868

of a ruptured blood vessel.

He was buried at Round Swamp.

Daniel’s gravestone

has been restored and reads:

Sacred to the Memory of Daniel Moore

who departed this life July 16^th
1868

aged 52 years.

May he rest in peace.

All you that my grave do see,

prepare yourselves to follow me

repent in time

make no delay,

for I in haste was called away.

Erected by his affectionate

sister-in-law, Maria Moore.

Daniel and Margaret’s son

Lawrence - who was born on

18^th June 1844 or 1845

and died on 28^th November 1924,

was Nanna Payt’s grandfather.

He’s the next chapter

of our family story.

(Once again, many thanks to Melanie O’Flynn, for her incredible work in
researching our history!)