Newsletter No. 3: September 2000
Articles are required constantly if this newsletter is to be interesting to all families so don't hesitate to send all your news to me as it happens and remember that you can also have links to our web site added. Birth dates from July to December have been added to the site so if your family have birthdays during this period would you check the list and advise if there are any omissions or errors. Also more photos have been added and these can be enlarged by clicking on the small image
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
14th Michael Craig Wood
14th Elizabeth Marie Robb
23rd Georga Rose Prawdiuk
26th Renae Lauren Turner
28th Robert John Wood
29th Raelene Elizabeth Turner
JOKE OF THE MONTH: 'A Close Cut'
A really good looking girl was giving
a man a manicure in the barber shop.
"How about a date when you finish work?" he asked.
"I can't" she replied, "I am married"
"So call up your husband and tell him you're
going to visit a sick girlfriend," said the man.
"Why don't you tell him yourself"said the girl,
"he's the one shaving you."
Another joke: from Barbara White
A grandson was walking along with his grandfather and he asked "Can you croak granddad?" Granddad said,"why do you ask son," and grandson said. "well mum said that when granddad croaks we will go to Disney Land".
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
There is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness.
FAMILY PROFILE
Name:
Paul White
D.O.B.: 24/2/58
Occupation: At present I am teaching years
7 & 8 Maths and Years 8 & 9 P.E. at St. Monica's College in Epping.
I began at St. Monica's in 1989. Prior to St. Monica's I taught at 2 primary
schools - The School of The Good Shepherd, Gladstone Park ('80-'86) and
St. Vincent's, Strathmore ('87-'89). While teaching, I have also had part
time positions at 2 AFL clubs. I was the Gym instructor at the Richmond
Football Club in '92 and '93 and I was one of the recruiting officers for
Nth Melbourne in '95 and '96.
Wife's (Teresa) Occupation: Prior to having
our first child Mitchell, Teresa was the office manager at the Victorian
National Park's Association. Now he is her full time job.
Hobbies/Interests: I am heavily involved
in the coaching of sprinters who compete on the Victorian Athletic League
circuit. I am still looking for the ultimate success in this area - a Stawell
Gift winner. I have been close, with 3rd place in '94 and came ever so
close last year when Clint Youlden ran 2nd by 6 hundredths of a second
to the youngest Gift winner ever. As they say, there is always next year
Children: Since the 29th December '99
my other main interest of course has been Mitchell. He certainly demands
plenty of my time but I am loving every minute of it. Now at 7 months,
we are still waiting for his first tooth and for him to begin crawling.
Teresa believes he will bypass the crawling and go straight to walking
like she did. From what everyone has told us we shouldn't be in a rush
to see him at the mobile stage!
Favourite Entertainer: Showing my age
here - Jethro Tull is my favourite band
Favourite CD: Heavy Horses (Jethro Tull)
Favourite Movie: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's
Nest
Favourite TV Show: Seinfeld
Favourite Holiday Destination: Anywhere
in Europe. In '97 we stayed in a few villas in France and Italy - fantastic.
We also loved the scenery and hiking in Austria. Travelling extensively
in Ireland and Scotland are high on the list for next time. I also love
going to Queensland and staying at the Rock's Resort at Currumbin
Favourite Meal: Teresa's dad owned Portofino's
restaurant in Toorak until he retired, so now he has plenty of time to
have us over for tea. He knows I love any of his pasta dishes - in fact
anything he cooks is fantastic, although there was no way I was going to
eat those snails he and his friend dished up a couple of years back.
Car I Drive: I did have an '86 Supra until
about a year ago which was great to drive. A long story but I no longer
have it. I am presently driving a '94 Commodore.
Famous Person That I Would Like To Dine With:
Leonardo Da Vinci
Event That I Would Like To Do At The Olympics:
The 100m sprint in 9.78sec.
Favourite Footy Team or Sports Team: Carlton
Pets: As we live in a unit, pets are not
allowed. I don't think I would have any anyway.
What Talent Would I Like To Have: To be
able to pick up any musical instrument and play it.
"REMINISCING" (continued from previous newsletter)
Even though times were hard and there was a never ending stream of chores Hilda still found time for some fun and remembers fondly the regular occurrence of Bonfire night where the community got together, burnt all their straw mattresses and then enjoyed roasted potatoes and chestnuts.
Hilda would also enjoy some time with a friend on Sundays, perhaps going for a walk, and it was on such a day, some years later, that Hilda's friend introduced her to a handsome uniformed boyfriend riding his pushbike. They exchanged pleasantries, chatted for a while and by the time they parted company, it was plainly obvious that the young man had taken a fancy to the lithe Hilda.
His name was George Stanley Wood, a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy. He was born on August 19, 1898 in Saltaire but grew up in the neighboring village of Shipley, the son of Joseph Wood and Mary Elizabeth Clark, the second of three boys. Prior to the war years he was employed from the age of 12 at the local mill until he turned 14 when he was given an apprenticeship as a mechanic on gas and oil engines in the fitting shop of John Robsons of Shipley.
During his apprenticeship the Great War erupted in Europe and the factory was taken over by the government. George became interested in making machine tools and continued in that field for two years whereupon he enlisted in the navy.
George spent ten months on the destroyer Lewellyn escorting troops from England to France and patrolling the English Channel. He spent the remainder of the war on the Princess Royal, a battle cruiser, stationed around Scotland. He witnessed the German fleet being handed over to the British and saw firsthand the terrible effects of that Great War. After the war he transferred to the mine sweeper, Hambledon, sweeping the coast from Aberdeen, in the north of Scotland, to as far south as Portsmouth. This was a particularly hazardous occupation but many men volunteered their services for the financial reward that was to be gained.
On return from the war George found that conditions in England were intolerable and he toyed with the idea of emigrating to Australia to start a new life. After some deliberation he made the decision to leave and asked Hilda, who by this stage had returned his affections, to accompany him as his wife.
Hilda had only limited knowledge of remote Australia and did not fancy the idea of leaving her familiar surroundings. As a friend once remarked: "Australia - ugh! Its full of flying beetles, sharks and snakes." However Hilda eventually agreed and on June 13, 1921 they married and began making plans for their long sea voyage. As the time drew near to their departure, Hilda hesitated; she did not want to leave her mother and family but Hannah Maria reminded her: "It is your duty to be with your husband", and so, in September 1921, they set sail on the P&O ship Orvita to arrive in Australia in late October that year.
(more next newsletter)
OVERSEAS TRAVELLERS
- Amanda White is now living in a flat with a girlfriend in Earls Court and is looking for work in London
- Renae Turner is now working for C & N Television in London
- Allison & Reg Regalado have traveled through several states of USA and were last in Montana, they attended an Indian Pow Wow in Idaho (Reg is part Apache Indian)
NEWS OF THE MONTH
- Liz Byrne (a friend of many of the family) has recentlly had a hip replacement and is going well.
- Raelene Turner will start a new job as Human Resourses Manager at GTV 9 late in September.
- Mark & Pauline Turnbull now have a new son Nicholas Stephen born 17/8/2000 weight 9lb 4ozs, mother & son both well.
- Michael Wood has been awarded the Australian Sports Medal ,the purpose of this medal is to recognise people who have made a contribution to Australian Sport through the provision of support services to sport in Australia.
- The next newsletter may not go out until mid October as we will be at the Olympic Games and on our return we anticipate that we will be moving into our new home at Doreen.
