Newsletter No. 4: October 2000

All birthdates are now listed on this web site. Could you check the details and advise me if there are any errors or omissions. As usual articles are still required, maybe your Christmas holiday arrangements could be included in the next issue.

Sadly the last sibling of Hilda Wood passed away in Yorkshire early in September, this was Marie Horne (Daire). Marie had been in a nursing home for a number of years and was 93. May she rest in Gods Hands

Birthdays

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

5th Aaron Peter James Wood
7th John West Collins
7th Timothy James Turnbull
10th Dennis John Lyell
16th Briana Elizabeth White
17th Violet Lorraine Wood
19th Kathleen Mary Woodhead
21st Damien Joseph Wood
23rd Ian Robert Lyell
24th Keith Camish
24th Matthew Leonard Lyell
25th Julian Peter Wood
27th Margaret Mary Wood
29th Carmel Lorraine White
29th Rachel Sarah Wood
30th Ashlea Jane Muir
30th Alannah Maree Wood

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

3rd Richard Charles Lyell
3rd Scott David Turner
3rd Carissa Morgan Lyell
5th Brendon Philip Couch
11th Teresa White
11th Clare Lorraine Wensor
12th Danielle Louise Wood
13th Michael Robert Woestyne
15th Matthew Frederick Turnbull
19th Liam James Collins
19th Benjamin Victor Woestyne
24th  Barbara Jean White
30th Anne Margaret Couch

Joke of the Month

Dr. Leroy, the head psychiatrist at the local mental hospital, is examining patients to see if they're cured and ready to re-enter society. 

'So, Mr. Clark," the doctor says to one of his patients, "I see by your chart that you have been recommended for dismissal. Do you have any idea what you might do once you are released?"

The patient thinks for a moment, then replies, "Well, I went to school for mechanical engineering. That's a good field and great money. But, on the other hand, I thought I might write a book about my experiences here in the hospital and what its like to be a patient here." 

The patient continued, "People might be interested in reading a book like that. In addition, I thought I might go back to college and study art history, which I've grown interested in lately."

Dr. Leroy nods and says, "Yes, those all sound intriguing possibilities."

The patient replies, "And the best part is, in my spare time, I can go on being a teapot."

Quote of the Month

Mighty rivers can easily be jumped at their source

"Reminiscing" (continued from previous newsletter)

The boat was referred to as the "Bride Ship" as most of the passengers on board were young married couples from all over the British Empire. Australia was looking for married couples to immigrate and it was of keen interest particularly to ex-servicemen to start a new life in Australia after the ravages of the Great War.

The ship was, however, not a honeymoon boat and this was to be no honeymoon voyage. It had been a troop ship in the war and had little if any refitting. The trip proved difficult. Men were relegated to one end of the ship and women the other with Hilda confined to a cabin accommodating five other women sharing their only luxury, a small washbasin. There were none of the activities or amusements that are available on cruise ships today, nonetheless they took delight, if the weather was fine, racing up on deck and grabbing the few deck chairs available. 

Hilda and George did not know anyone in Australia but George carried with him a letter from Sir Henry Whitehead of Saltaire Mill, introducing and recommending George to Yarra Falls, a new weaving mill, establishing itself in Abbotsford, Victoria. It was to their surprise then, on docking in Adelaide that they had a letter awaiting them explaining to Hilda to "wear the enclosed blue ribbon on arrival in Port Melbourne" and that there would be a lady waiting for them on the wharf with the same blue ribbon on her umbrella. The letter came from Mrs. Halliwell of Elsternwick, a friend of George's neighbors in Shipley, who had been asked to look out for them. That she did, taking them in and caring for them for three weeks until they found their  feet.

Work was difficult to come by but eventually, after going to the Labour Exchange in Melbourne, George and Hilda were employed on a sheep station at Reesdale. Hilda was employed to cook and clean for the shearers as well as the family and George was employed as a jackaroo. The work was grueling and the hot summer sun unbearable to the young English couple and after just a week they packed their belongings and some food to last them for the long walk back to Kyneton Station.

Such difficult times with the heat, lack of work and homesickness made Australia seem a very dismal prospect for the future and Hilda began to despair. George had hesitated taking the letter to Yarra Falls as he wished to find work himself but after some thought and with the forthcoming birth of their first child, George relented and visited Yarra Falls.

The letter proved to have a settling effect on their future in Australia; after visiting Yarra Falls one week and returning the following, George was employed. A new weaving mill was in the process of construction when George began and he was employed as an engineer on the maintenance and erection of the new machinery.

With George working and at the sort of work he knew best, their lives started to take shape. They had been living close to Yarra Falls renting a small house and with the arrival of Edward, their first child, followed a short time later by Dorothy, they felt the need to look for somewhere permanent to live that would provide their children with a more congenial environment to grow up in. They had heard of land for sale in Reservoir, at the time quite rural, and so in 1925 they moved into their new home at 64 Pine Street Reservoir where the other children Leslie, Elizabeth, Barbara, John & Margaret were born.

Hilda and George were settled and soon after sponsored George's family to Australia. Hilda's family however had made their lives in England and at times she became very homesick for them. This was felt acutely when waiting on news from home which in those days would taken seven weeks by ship. But time progressed, the family expanded and the days were filled. Mr. Hogg, the chief engineer who had employed George at Yarra Falls, moved to Geelong and George was promoted to Chief Engineer after 10 years employment.

It was not until 1958 that they had the opportunity of returning to England for their eldest child's ordination to the priesthood and it was a very proud and excited Hilda and George who arrived back in Shipley. Hilda's mother had passed on but she had three sisters and a brother keenly expecting them. They had a marvelous time and spent six months touring England and the continent before returning home by ship, which was quite a different experience to their voyage to Australia, nearly forty years previous.

George retired from Yarra Falls in 1961 after 39 years service to a company which when he started, had not been in operation. It was said that George's skills and inventiveness saved the company millions of dollars.

George and Hilda settled into retirement with George tending his very large garden and Hilda enjoying the freedom to do as she pleased with all of their seven children grown up with lives of their own. All went well for quite some years until George, ailing with the disease of the heart, Angina, finally gave up and died peacefully on March 26, 1976. He died as had always wanted to - with his family around him.

With George gone, there was no-one to tend to their large garden so reluctantly Hilda sold her home and moved to a comfortable unit close by. She has spent many years in the unit, alone but not lonely, with much time spent in the company of her large family which includes 35 grandchildren. 

Hilda and George's life exemplify the spirit of Australia's settlers in the early part of the 20th century. Not only did they uproot themselves from their homeland and familiarity of their environment, to travel thousands of miles to a country they knew little of, but also isolated themselves in a way we now find difficult to comprehend. Because of the sheer distance, lack of telecommunications, jumbo jets and cruise liners, immigrants to Australia had virtually said goodbye to their loved ones for good. They showed courage, determination and resourcefulness in the face of an unknown and often times hostile environment. We, their descendents, can feel justifiably proud. (conclusion)

FAMILY PROFILE

Name: Christine Payne (Lyell) lives in Malabar N.S.W
D.O.B.: 21/6/56
Occupation: Secretary at Adecco
Husband: Ray who is a material Handler/Storeman at Mascot Jet Base
Hobbies: Craft, Custom Car Shows, Walking the dogs.
Interests: N.S.W. Animal Welfare League, N.S.W. Chevrolet Club
Favorite Entertainer: None in Particular.
Favorite CD: Quincy Jones, John Lee Hooker
Favorite Movie: Streetcar Named Desire.
Favorite TV Show: L.A. Law, Harry's Practice, The Sopranos
Favorite Holiday Destination: U.S.A., once a year.
Favorite Meal: Yoghurt & Muesli.
Favorite Book: Brando-Songs My Mother Taught Me.
Favorite Sports Team: Not a particular sports fan
Car You Drive: Ford Laser (63 Chevy Impala weekends)
Famous Person you would like to dine with: Marlon Brando, Anthony Hopkins.
Event that you like to do at the Olympics: Watch
Pets:"Stella": my Airedale; "General" my Fox Terrier; "Lucie" a mutt who is living with a carer from Animal Welfare; 3 Budgies
What talent would you like to have: Happy & content as I am, I love animals and my dream is to have a farm full of them.

Junior Family Activities

Laurie & Tricia Wood's Children

Sarah, age 15,Year 10 St. Francis Xavier School, Beaconsfield, her main activity is Dancing and has lessons in 4 varieties; Jazz, Tap, Classical and Aerobatics at the Seena Bird Academy in Narre Warren. Sarah has danced in her school production of "A Midsummer's Nights Dream" and participated through the school in the Rock Eisteddfod Productions. Sarah has a keen interest in Art & Design and it appears that this will be the field in which she will go.

Matthew, age 12,Year 7 attends the same school is very active in Tennis and plays at ever opportunity (Nintendo sometimes takes precedent). Matthew plays in the local competition on Saturdays and then on Sundays in the Vic Junior Squads, he is showing rapid improvement so much so that when he plays his father the pressure to win is very intense.

Elise, age 8, Year 2 Don Bosco School Narre Warren has recently joined the Brownies and is enjoying this experience with some of her school friends, Elise is keen on writing & drawing and strives for perfection in all that she attempts.

Rick & Debbie Lyell's children

Brant, age 11 plays under 12 Aussie Rules Football for Coorparoo ,the team just missed out on this year's grand final when they lost the preliminary final by 4 points (Debbie was the team manager for the year). Brant also competed in the school sports and won the 100m sprint, shot put, discus and was second in the high jump and long jump so it was not surprising that he was his age champion for the school.

Carissa, age 8 is very involved in dancing and is now having exams in level 2 Ballet, Jazz & Tap dancing, Carissa has been dancing for 4 years and enjoys all the performing especially on the stage. Carissa also competed in the school sports coming 1st in Long Jump, High Jump, Discus, Shot Put and second in 100m & 200m sprints winning her age championship.
Heath: age 6 competed for the school for the first time and was 4th in the 60m sprint and says there is more to come.

Rhys Woodhead: age 9 has just completed his first season playing for the junior basketball club called "Menai Skinks" and to top the season off he was elected captain and lead the team to a win in the grand final, Rhys also plays mini ball for the Menai club. Rhys competes in Athletics during the summer.

Brent Woodhead: age 15 plays basketball and is fortunate that he has been selected for the school team which is going to the USA late November and while he believes that the American teams will be difficult to beat he is looking forward to the experience. Brent also plays Aussie rules and golf, this year he ran the boundary with the Sydney Football League, this not only kept him fit but enabled him to earn pocket money for his USA trip ($45.00 a game)

Overseas Travellers 

• Amanda White & Renae Turner are still in London.
• Allison & Reggie Regalado have now reached New York State as they continue their trip around America.