"UTOPIA" Revisited

Well, lovely readers, I have given you a short break after the wonderful Centenary Celebrations of my family, from my dabblings in history.
I love history, though I admit it is a love I have developed as I've become older and in the broader sense have enjoyed learning along with own children.

But Family History has become something of a passion for me:-)

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Therefore, in this 100th year of my father's parents settling at Jooro, I am excited to also be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the landing of the migrant ship "Utopia" in Keppel Bay.  The passengers of which then came up the river to Rockhampton.  The year was 1862 and this was the first ship to bring immigrants directly to Rockhampton. The 324 passengers swelled the population of Rocky by about 50%!

Descendants and History buffs are invited to attend the celebrations being held next weekend (3/4 November).  The launch of a book by a local Historian at the Public Library, Lunch at the North Rockhampton Bowls club which is along the Fitzroy River not far from the arrival point and a bus tour of historic sites. These include the memorial stone to mark the arrival of the "Utopia", other old establishments along the river and the old cemeteries.

Several of my own family will be enjoying the day with me and many of my more extended relatives.  My father's maternal great  grandparents, (on both sides) were passengers on the "Utopia".  Two young couples, the Bonds and the Rattenburys.  Each with two small children arrived here among the adventurous souls who travelled from England's fair shores to the blistering heat of our Australian summer.

Each family had quite a few more children after coming to Australia and my  great Grandfather, Charles Bond went on to marry Sarah Rattenbury.  As you can imagine in a large country town like Rockhampton there are still many descendants of those first pioneers who lay claim to this wonderful piece of Aussie history. 

If you would like to read a little about the ship, her voyage and arrival and the good folk who travelled on her , follow the link:

The Arrival of the Utopia

The article concludes with a photograph taken at the fifty year celebration of the "Utopia" and my ancestor, Richard Bond is in it.  He is the gentleman with the bushy beard.

(Hahahahahahahahahhahahaha)

Great great grandparents
Richard and Mary Bond

In family folk lore, and also other articles, it is told that the crew of the ship mutinied and that the able and willing men on board performed the crew men's duties to aid the captain to bring her to her destination.  It is mentioned in this article that the men were hand picked according to their skills and trades.  This was a great boon to the newly settled area.

The Bonds became dairy farmers. 
A friend of mine now lives in Bond road close to the place where they once lived and worked.

The Rattenburys were also farmers and Dad was telling me recently that they also dabbled in mining. There were several mines in the area in the early days including 

gold at Mt Morgan.

More on this after the event!

Haha, if you missed the joke I know you didn't look at the link!

One Hundred Years of Farm & Family #3

One Hundred Years of Farm & Family #1 & #2

are the two previous posts.

When the melee of the tree planting was over

(we had decided they would all be planted at one time

to prevent a long drawn out session)

the men started up the branding fires for the branding of

the entrance gate and fence.

In real life, branding cattle used to be a very hot, smelly event.

The gas burner still get hot and the one doing the

branding needs to be careful.

P7J

Formally Dad's and now my youngest brother's.

Planks were branded for any who wished to take

home a memento.

6GD

Grandad's brand and now my cousin's/

Another cousin and her husband constructed the gate and fence

and put in a watering system for the grove.

Note the old cow bell hanging on the gate.

Dad can no longer see.

He listens carefully as my sisters read out the brands.

Of course, he knows whose each one is.

Sunset at the top of the world!

With wine and cheese

we soaked in the splendid view from the highest point

on my brother's place.

A 360 view of the Callide Valley and toward the Dawson.

Westward ho!

The local school bus driver, and family friend

loaned his bus for ferrying folk around.

My grandkids loved the bus ride but being

almost dark, fell asleep on the trip up the mountain.

Memorabilia displayed on what was once my grandparent's

family table and later hosted many happy occasions

at my own childhood home.

including my Family History Albums.

(And my sweet grand-daughter behind)

Old photos hanging in the corrugated iron shed

plus old implements, cream cans etc

added to the rustic feel.

My youngest son and his cousin give my two

grandsons a ride on the quad.

In our day, visiting kids got rides on horses.

My brothers are both horse lovers and good horsemen and

use them for mustering,

but many farm jobs are done on bikes these days.

And so it is over......sigh.

Our celebration and reunion were well worth all of the effort

that went into it. 

Every detail seemed to fall into place.

Thank you for reading and sharing in this special occasion.

100 years of Family and Farm

One Hundred Years of Farm & Family #2

Please see the previous post for #1

From my brother's house and the main location of eating, drinking and

reminiscing, we made the short trek over to the original homestead site.

This is now owned by one of my cousins and formally his parents.

 My grandfather had named his property "Ashgrove" probably because

a large cluster of Moreton Bay Ash grew around where the hut, and later

their home for many years, was built.

Over the years the old place was demolished, some of the trees

had died and others were cleared.

This is where the idea of planting a memorial grove came from.

Dad seated between his sister and brother listen to their sister

give a short history of the site.

My cousin, now one of the land owners at Jooro reminisced of our grandparents.

She also read her poem

"Our Song"

As these two cousins unveiled the memorial plaque.

The verses are engraved along with pictures of our

grandparents, their family and the house.

(Try clicking to enlarge)

Friends, relatives and other neighbours watch on from the shade

as we proceed to plant the fifteen trees.

These trees represent the original family, the present owners and also two

"Guarding Gums" as mentioned in the poem.

My two younger brothers plant the tree for our Dad.

My older brother helps Dad in the planting of the tree for Michael.

His father and our grandfather.

My cousin Jenny & I plant a tree for Norah.

She was Grandma & Grandad's fifth child and first daughter.

She was still born in June, 1927

Jenny's daughter was still born in 2003

and our son died at 8 days of age.

We felt very privileged to honour our Aunt this way

knowing that our Grandmother grieved her all her life.

My Dad flanked by his descendants at the Reunion.

(About 20 were unable to attend.!)

I was thrilled that my four children, my son-in-law and

my six grandchildren were all there for this

big family event.

They are on the far left of this photo.

To be continued......

Through my Eyes

School days.

Gotta love the 70s

Here is a link to the poem I have written for tomorrow's Centenary Celebrations at my childhood home. I have scrapped it, very simply, with photographs and made a nice little book for the occasion.

Through My Eyes

My very dear grandparents, just three weeks before
 Grandad passed away.
My 18th birthday.
1980

Jooro means road in the aboriginal language.
My Grandfather pronounced it Jew-row
but ever after it has been pronounced Jew-roo, thus the
rhymn in the poem.

Looking Forward

Just to share some of the excitement of the coming weekend I have chosen a few pics

 from around my old home

The front gate at "Glen Erin"

House is in the centre above the fence.

My childhood home.

My second brother's home, "Jooro"  Once owned by my uncle and named after the district when the railway stopped using this end of the line. My crew will be staying here.  Are they ready!

Old Rannes Town

Once a bustling little centre with pubs and shire office.

This photo was taken in the twenties.

These days Rannes is just a dot on the map, a ghost town.

It is about 8km from our place.

Goovigen in the 1950's.

Taken from the hotel where my mother lodged as a

teacher at the then two teacher school.

Goovigen is about 10km from home and now

 the nearest town. With a one teacher school where my SIL

 does a day a week and my nephew is the Sports teacher,

 also one day a week.

My own children join their grandparents, uncle, aunt and 

cousins representing Jooro school.  My dad attended this school, which his father donated land for, in the 30's and my older brother and sisters all began their school lives there until it's closure in 1965. 

Hearts ease ♥

The Billabong at our place, looking tranquil

 in a good season. I have so many happy memories

of games and cubbies in this creek.  There used to be

a majestic white gum which was like a lighthouse

marking our spot.  Sadly, it has gone now.

Snippets

Here is the last week or so in pics.  I hope everyone is doing well, whatever you are doing.  Especially the hard working home schoolers.  I am not on so often these days but I don't see too many of you old friends on either and not so many posts.  Do you think our blogging days are dwindling?  We are enjoying the fabulous crisp turn of the season weather here ~ especially the littlies.




Tuesday's big excitement!




Not much makes it into the oven ;-)



The Groves Workshop

Students learn a song in German

Tuesday nights

The boys cook!

My cousin lays a poppy on our Uncle's plaque at

the Victory in the Pacific Memorial

Last weekend



The other daughter and family
holidayed in Cairns.

Photogenic aren't they?




A precious bundle of cuteness!

   The weeks are flying by and our busy household have all been sick :-(
As with most large families it has taken a while to get around us all but hopefully we are back on the mend.

The boys attended the Groves workshop today which centred around Geography and Language.  We all had a good time.  The teachers put in a huge effort to make these workshops educational and fun and a good day for parents to discuss the students programs and our concerns.  I find them especially encouraging with both our academic battles as well as health and family concerns.

Good night all.

We will not forget....

"They will  grow not old,
as we who are left grow old........"





This Remembrance Day, we remember and honour not only those who gave their lives that we might live, those who age did not weary, nor the world condemn, but I am also mindful of the many who returned and built our nation through hard work, commitment, loyalty to God and country. The ones who did grow old.

Since last year's Remembrance Day the two remaining veterans of our family have passed away. Only at his funeral last week did I learn of one uncle's wounding and gallantry medal.  These were men who did their duty and came home keeping much of the memories they held to themselves.  Though he was military in his running of "the ship" this man was one of the most loving, affectionate and communicative of his gender that I have had the privilege to know.  He was my mother's brother.

My father has also lost a brother this last year.  (Both men were ninety.)  This uncle was the family historian and he has passed really valuable information and photographs to me as one who wishes to take up this mantle.

Though I am proud to have these men as my ancestors along with my beloved grandfather who fought in the Great War, I am also thankful to God that I do not have loved ones who were involved in later conflicts, nor any of the young folk in our family currently serving in conflicts.  I pray for the three who are training with the Navy at this time.  God Bless them and Australia.

Lest we Forget

Oh my hat!!!!

Like many Aussies and no doubt folk all around the world, we watched the marriage of Prince William and Katherine tonight.  That is, my daughter and I watched a little of it and the men folk of the house hold gave a running critical analysis or whinged about how long, pompous and boring it was!

While shindigs such as this obviously cost an astronomical amount, I read with interest the comments of an Englishman on a Christian board that I read.  He maintained that the monarchy cost them individually very little and that the members worked hard and earned an enormous amount for their country through tourism etc. Here in Australia we have our share of yeas and nay's (for the monarchy)  but most of us seem to enjoy a good wedding.  That is, unless you are a footy fanatic.  Some of my relatives were quite indignant that they had to forgo live coverage of tonight's game for the big event.

I have some thoughts about the suitability of all that fuss when a couple have been co-habiting, the service etc. (the repeated showing on the broadcast of a particularly awful icon) etc. etc.  But when it all boils down I am pleased to see a couple making the commitment to  marriage and wish them all the best.  They seem like lovely young people, happy and relaxed and I loved Kate's dress which was sleeved, feminine and not flashy at all.  Loved the veil, too.

Another  dignified royal beauty
Elizabeth Bowes Lyon
Queen Consort of George VI
Later the Queen Mother\

But what about the mad hatters ??!!
These look as though they are not created by milliners but by sculptors!
How would you like to be seated behind something like that.
Beatrice and Eugenie had to take out the worst offenders award in this category. Two beautiful young ladies who really did not need those gawdy accessories. Their exiting from the car was quite a skillful manoeuvre!












And on another theme entirely

You will have heard of the terrible tornadoes that swept through part of the US yesterday.  Any of my readers over there I hope you are in safe havens.  We send our prayers and sympathy to you.  Kelly from
Generation Cedar has tragically had her house entirely devastated.  Praise God all her family have been spared but apparently they are in one of the worst hit areas.
Lord give them comfort and reassurance of your love and grace at this tragic time.

Vanity of Vanities...

There is no new thing under the sun..

Ganeida reviewed  "The Red Queen" a few months ago and kindly loaned me her copy of "The White Queen" to read. Since then I have read quite a few of these historical novels by Phillipa Gregory.  I am not a history buff, though I do enjoy learning more of history, so I am not going to comment from a factual point of view.

I have vacillated about whether I like these books.  So much scandal, corruption, sex, politics and intrigue.  Hey, that sounds a lot like society today!  This has really struck me - the immorality and lack of ethics in 1500s England.  While the Victorian era heralded a somewhat more austere life style and a turn to family life and morals, the Yorks, Lancasters, Tudors and other great names of the medieval period showed no such restraint.

When discussing  this with a friend, she commented that they were immoral but today people have become amoral.  Hmmm... there is no new thing under the sun.  What makes the 1500s scenario even worse/ sadder is that most people lived  a facade of Christianity and did much of their wickedness under a cloak of "church".  Today, people for the most part, do not pretend to be believers, though sadly many still use the guise of "church" to give some respectability to their wicked behaviour..

If the Lord tarries, one wonders how our own generation will be remembered in historical novels of the future.  While wickedness and ungodly behaviour abounds, perhaps we will be viewed in much the same way as our forefathers.  I pray that the Christians might make a clear and committed stand for the Lord and His ways which is for the glory of God and not for our promotion as so often has been the case.

In these bygone days, many lost their lives defending what they believed was truth and standing against the blatant abuse of power that was wielded over the common people. Whether we agree with their point of view or not, they had the courage of their convictions. Today, many of us are still appalled by similar heresy and ungodly behaviour but do we speak out and make a stand for the truths of God's Word?  Are we lights in a dark world?

Ecclesiastes 1
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

The Great Flood of 2011

When I was a child, my Grandfather would tell us about a dim memory he had from his early childhood.  He was a four year boy in 1893 when Brisbane experienced devastating flooding.  He lived in the suburb of Rosalie which we are seeing a lot of in the news this week.  Thankfully Great Grandfather and Grandmother lived in a very high house but I believe the Brisbane River rose to about 8 meters which is A LOT higher than this flood.  I actually remember visiting my maiden (great) aunts who still lived there in the 70s and being overawed with how very high that house was!

As this historic week  has unfolded I have been working on one of my Golden Childhood posts that has had the working title of "One Momentous Week in '74".  It is about the week of the Australia Day floods which ravaged Queensland that year, but more about my personal dramas and memories of that week.

So now I am thinking that this too will go down as one of those historic episodes, which generally mark a generation.  As Grandad spoke of the '93 flood and 1918, my parents used to compare to the '54 flood which was huge in the Don River area where they lived and here in Rocky also. My hubby and I speak of '91 when with a toddler and a small baby we were marooned, surrounded by flood waters in our little rural home.

We are country folk.  Our lives revolve around the seasons. I don't feel I need to, nor am I able to write to much about the floods here and the catastrophic events on the Downs and South East Queensland.  I know even readers in the US and other overseas places are hearing about all the drama.  It is on our TV and radio channels 24/7.  We feel a little numb.

We have the refugees back after a week at the Evacuation Centre.  I am glad.  Even though it is crowded and hectic, it is good to have them all here close.  Sickness had broken out over there anyway and some "disturbances" which are bound to happen when large groups of random people are thrown in together. This is a special opportunity to support family and build bridges in our community.  I battle for my turn at the computer anyway, but doubly so with so many in house!  If you don't hear from me.....don't panic!

I have been touched and comforted and greatly uplifted by the people of God at this time.  So many blogs that I read which have posted about the floods have had beautiful, faith filled comments.  How blessed we are to know that the Lord reigns, that he does all things well and that he works all things together for the good of his people.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those in flood affected areas both here in Queensland and further afield.  Thinking of you Jeanne, you have been through it all so recently and now a double whammy. 

The photograph above is taken in Wood St, Rockhampton.  On the left where the trees are is the park where we play often with the grandchildren.  My daughter home is one street to the right but the flood water was 2 metres high at the peak :-(  They hope to get in next week to begin the clean up.

Melbourne and Points Beyond

Our wonderful trip to Victoria is over :-(

So many months in the planning and every bit as exciting as we had dreamed.

Too much packed into those nine days to write about so I will do the album thing.

I have selected these from 450 photographs we took.

Enjoy!

Leaving Rockhampton airport.

To the Top of the World!

88 floors in 37 seconds to see the spectacular view from the Sky walk at the Eureka Towers

Then on the the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Site of the hanging of Ned Kelly.

WANTED

and other disreputable characters!

The Melbourne Zoo

showcases the wonders of Gods animal creation!

We were delighted to watch a platypus swimming, diving and frolicking.

Jemimah's favourites ~ the butterflies.

Elephant wallowing.

The Aquarium.

Absolutely awe inspiring creatures of the deep!

We could have spent a long while just watching the antics of the nesting and playful penguins.

Up close to some very spectacular creatures!

More than a mouthful!

The Museum held many wonders including

a 3D presentation from the Hubble Telescope.

"The Heavens declare the glory of God"!

The absolute highlight!

Two days at Sovereign Hill Historical site.  Ballarat.

WOW!

This place is so well done in every detail.

The children enjoyed panning for gold, and finding a few specks.

The huge treat was dinner in one of the old pubs, the spectacular light show and re-enactment of the events leading up to and including the Eureka Rebellion, and staying the night in the on site accommodation!

The Red Coats fired some pretty impressive guns!

Every building is done up in minute detail, right down to folks in 1850s clothing doing needlework and shop assistants passing the time of day with quaint conversations.

Site of the Eureka Stockade

Bendigo

The Chinese Museum

Winging home.

Exhausted and exhilarated!

Bloggers three!

Jeanne, from  A Peaceful Day, Ruby, That's me! and Jeana, from Jeana Marie Blackert

As with all things, people are the best part of my holiday memories.

Jeanne is the same wonderful, warm person in real life as she is on her blog. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated the hospitality and generosity which she and  her family showed us nor the time and energy they spent ensuring that we had the holiday of a lifetime. Well, for me at least, perhaps my boys will go on to great adventures.  Life long friends have been made and many precious memories as well.

It was an added bonus to meet and spend some time with Jeana and her family.

On the Lords Day we were blessed to worship with the people of God at Jeanne's home church.

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity!"