Julie Goucher ~ Anglers Rest

Whilst I was in Australia, I had a birthday. Not one of the special ones that end in zero! As my cousin had a birthday two days after mine we had a small get together with about a sixth of the family. Our venue was the Junee Licorice Factory restaurant

Taken October 2012 – Julie Goucher

It is great that these old buildings find a new lease of life. Inside there are obviously some of the delicious creations that you can purchase. There is various historical displays about how they make licorice and where it comes from. There is also a gift shop with some rather lovely items. My spending was severely controlled by the airline baggage restrictions!

Since I first visited Australia in the early 1990s I have been fascinated by the Aborginal culture. Understanding what Dreamtime was and the amazing art that accompanied those stories.

Taken October 2012 – Julie Goucher

The area of Wagga Wagga was originally occupied by the Wiradjuri Peoples and the City Council are really attempting to be inclusive of the historical and Indigenous aspects of Society. The Council have a Heritage Study which can be accessed HERE

I stood for ages looking at this painting, trying to fathom what it actually meant. I failed on that last visit, but perhaps next time!

Last year I spoke of the Aboriginal band Yotha Yindi and you can read that post HERE

As I mentioned a few days ago, we spent a day or two in Hay. Apart from exploring the Internment Camp located there – you can read about that HERE. We explored the small town, including the river, for my poor angling obsessed hubby!

Hubby had read that there was some pretty good fishing spots around the Hay area, and there was a river. So we headed down to the river to have a look at what fishing potential there might be for a future visit.

Now, I have absolutely no interest in fishing, but this river does not look that hopeful to me, but then I am not the expert!

However, this photograph is a favourite of mine. Taken at the same river, but just along the bank.

Taking part in the A-Z April Challenge

We had a lovely few days in Geelong. For some reason I never think of the sea when I think of Geelong, but it is located on the shoreline as you can see here.

The highlight of my trip was seeing my family and catching up with old friends and meeting those who had been in touch with me online for a while, but whom I had never met.

Since my last visit, my family had experienced three bereavements, so it was important to me that one of the first tasks I did having arrived (after having some serious sleep and visiting the bank) was to head to the cemetery to pay my respect to those who I would not see again. For me that was so important and very emotional. You never think that when you board a plane to come home that the next time someone, or my case, three someones will be missing, even though we know there are two certainties in life – death & taxes! Grief is a very strange emotion and has a habit of creeping up on you just when you think all is okay!

As one would expect, the Aussie BBQ – September and October are Spring – therefore the start of the BBQ season. Brr, the evening of this BBQ was pretty chilly thankfully I had packed a rather favourite heavy duty jumper! In this next photograph is myself and my cousins.  We are looking at a group of photograph albums that their Mum had left to the oldest daughter. Many un named. I borrowed them and scanned the lot whilst in Australia and was able to name around 3/4 of the photographs.

I also caught up with Judy who is the Team Captain for the Genealogists for Families Team, although sadly can not seem to locate the photograph that I know was taken in Sydney. You can join the  Genealogist for Families Team HERE.

Last year I spoke quite a lot of my Ellis ancestors who migrated from rural Surrey to Geelong in Victoria.

John Ellis married Sarah Turpin in the Surrey parish of Elstead in 1842.

At the time of their marriage Sarah was recorded as a lace maker, as was her father. There is no evidence to suggest that Sarah’s parents moved to Elstead, nor what exactly bought Sarah to such a rural parish, but she did arrive in Elstead and worked as a lace maker at Elstead Mill.
Between the time of their marriage and the migration to Victoria Australia they raised a family of 6 children, starting with Robert baptised in Elstead in 1843, Thomas baptised in 1844, Frederick baptised in 1846, Wilhelmina baptised in 1849, Rosetta baptised in 1853 and Josiah baptised in 1851.
John and Sarah migrated, as free settlers to Victoria in 1854. Sailing on board the “British Empire” from Southampton on 17th October and arriving in January 1855. It has always been unclear what prompted their migration. Were they inspired by the gold rush; although there is no evidence they were involved once they arrived in their new Country? Were they encouraged by Robert, who had become a free settler? again there is no evidence of that either. 
Sarah’s brother Josiah Turpin also migrated with the family, although he sailed on a different ship; The James Baines. He was accompanied by his nephew, young Josiah Ellis who would have been only a little boy of around 5 years old. I wonder how Josiah felt being separated from his parents for the duration of the journey. Another pondering is why the family did not travel together. Was their perhaps not enough berths on the ship, or had illness or funds prevented it?
John and Sarah along with their children arrived in Victoria and made their home in Geelong and I am sure they eagerly awaited the arrival of Josiah Turpin and young Josiah. Once in Australia, John and Sarah added a few more children to their family; Jane baptised in 1855, perhaps conceived just before they left England, Catherine baptised in 1858, Sarah in 1860 and John Henry George in 1862. 

Will of John Ellis. Probate 30 Nov 1900

Some sadness did occur, with the death of both Rosetta and young Josiah. There were successes too, daughter Jane became a student teacher in Germantown Geelong and the family seemed to have been content in their new home.

John lived a happy and long life, passing away on 8th August 1900 and Sarah 23rd August 1903. Josiah Turpin remained close to his family. Sadly he never married and from what I have discovered there is no mention of the family meeting up with Robert Turpin who was brother to Josiah and Sarah who had been transported in 1830.
It would have been tragic if the family had been in the same Country all the time and not spent some time together or been aware.
So, whilst I was in Australia I had to make the trip to Ellis territory and visit the cemetery at Mount Duneed and take a few up to date photographs.

This next photo was the biggest wonder.

It is a photograph of the last remaining piece of wall that was the house and farm of John Ellis who migrated in 1854. There was something rather special that the current owners had retained the wall and for some very strange reason I did feel very emotional!

The headstone photographs will be appearing at Grave Encounters in due course!