HWMT 2016 Bus Trip

For those who are interested in the HWMT Bus Trip and wondering what you will see, below is a list of places. There may be some changes, but this will give you a good idea. ❶  Atholdale Thomas & Zenobia Williams settled here in 1872.  When Thomas passed, Zenobia moved to Waaia, and their son George & Elizabeth (Mills) Williams ran the farm.  George & Elizabeth retired to Numurkah and their son George Thomas & Elizabeth Emma (Bell) Williams took over the 320 acre farm and in early 1930 bought the adjoining 320 acres north that had been selected by E Armstrong.  On George Thomas Williams passing the block was split up into quarters, one quarter for each of the 3 sons and 1 for his wife.  Cliff moved to WA and on Elizabeth Emma’s death, Harry bought both blocks respectively.  Allan’s quarter is now owned by Warren & Karen Williams, who also own the block, north of Christies Road.
There has been 4 houses built on the farm.  The first house was flooded and the second one was burnt down.  After George Thomas Williams passed and the family had all married, in 1962, the third house made way for a smaller house for Elizabeth Emma Williams and still is here today and is commonly known as ‘Nanna’s house’.
②   Girdler’s Blacksmith Shop Edith Maud (Edie) Williams married Alfred George Girdler in 1912 at Numurkah.  George had a blacksmith shop at Yalca South, near where the original Presbyterian Church stood on what is now known as Yalca South Church Rd.  They sold the business and moved to Picola.

            

③  Errindale

Originally owned by the Baldwin’s, cousin to Joseph Henry Baldwin.  Allan & Bev Williams bought the farm in 1963.  Currently owned by Ashley & Theresa Williams, their daughter Helen & husband Heath Plattfuss share farms the dairy.  They are milking 160 cows on the 285 acres.

④ Tweedle Farm

Thomas & Thirza (Williams) Mills share farmed the 640 acre property before leaving to go to Nagambie in 1900.  Currently owned by Ashley & Theresa Williams and is home to the Waaia Tractor Pull.

❺  Baulkamaugh North Primary School

Baulkamaugh North Primary School was on the norh west corner of the Patten farm.  Ellen Patten was the first school teacher.  The Patten & Williams children attended here.

Patten Farm

Original farm of William & Ellen (Gourd) Patten.  Francis & Siss (Williams) Patten farmed here.  After WWII some of the farm was acquired for soldier settlement.  On Francis’ death the farm was taken over by his son, Leonard & wife Peggy (Beer) Patten.  The family sold the farm.

⑥  Biggars Farm

James & Jessie (Mills) Biggar farmed next door to the Mills.  Jessie was Robert & Ellen Mills second child.

❼  Mills Farm

Robert & Ellen (Adam) Mills settled the 197 acre farm in 1880.  The original house, while renovated somewhat still stands today along with the Breathren Hall.  After Robert & Ellen’s passing, brothers James & John continued with farming until their deaths.

⑧  Waaia Hotel

Birth place of Thomas & Thirza (Williams) Mills triplets in 1900.  The original Waaia Hotel was burnt down sometime after 1900 and was rebuilt.

⑨  Robert Adam Mills Boot Shop Robert Adam Mills owned and run a boot shop in Railway St, Waaia until 1910 when they moved to Colac. ⑩ Robert Adam & Elizabeth (Broderick) Mills house Robert Adam & Elizabeth Mills lived in the house on the corner of Waaia – Beari & Nathalia – Waaia Roads.  Their youngest would have been 10 when they moved to Colac in 1910.

⑪ Baglin Farm

Bruce & Edna (Mills) Baglin settled the soldier settlement farm after WWII.

Numurkah

①  Ethel (Williams) Sizer’s house, Eloura – 88 Tocumwal Road, Numurkah

Ethel bought the house with the compensation from her first husband, Leonard’s death in WWI.  She and her second husband Harry moved to Queensland and her parents George & Elizabeth (Mills) Williams retired here.  Ethel & Harry returned to the house during WWI.

Currently the Seventh Day Adventist Church occupies the site.

Toc Rd was known as ‘Blink Bonny’ and a sign can be found on one of the houses in the street.

②  Joyce (Girdler) & Henry Simmons place – 90 Saxton St /

14 Dolphin St, Numurkah

③ Edie & George Girdler shop, 41 Saxton St, Numurkah

Edie & George took over the business H B Mackay & Massey Harris Agencies, which was also an agent for Sunshine Harvesters.  Later they expanded their shop and stocked furniture. 

As Alan was interested in bicycle racing, Alan and his father assembled bikes under the name of A L G Bicycles.

George had a lady working for him and when she became ill, Edie helped out in the shop and ended up staying on working there.  They later stocked crockery, fabric & manchester.  They lived behind the shop. 

④ Alan Girdlers furniture shop, 29 Melville St, Numurkah Alan went to WWII and when he returned he ran the furniture shop across the road from his parent’s shop.  They built the shop and lived above it.   ❺ Numurkah Cemetary Numurkah Cemetary is the home to many past Mills and Williams.  Including Robert & Ellen Mills,George & Elizabeth (Mills) Williams.  RSVP: 26 Feb 2016 Cost for the bus trip is $20 per person, Includes BBQ lunch. 9:30 start for registrations and morning tea.  Bus will leave Waaia at 10am and return at 4pm. Limited seats are available so hurry and book your place. PLEASE NOTE:  Due to the Waaia Cricket Club Grand Final we may not be able to use the Waaia hall.  If this is the case we will be at the Numurkah Football Club rooms.  Please ensure you have given your mobile and or email address with your RSVP so we can let you know.

Hi

Tonight I would like to tell you about our plans to restore Ellen Mills grave.

Some of you may remember, from the bus trip on the last reunion, when we went to the Numurkah Cemetery, that Ellen Mill headstone had been damaged from age and floods.

For those who don’t know who Ellen Mills is, Ellen and her husband Robert Mills came to Australia,16^th Oct 1852 from Scotland with 2 children at the age of 23.  Over 22 years Robert & Ellen had 10 children. 

Robert & Ellen eventually settled in Waaia on a farm, which we also visited on the bus trip.  Robert & Ellen are Great Great Grandparents to most of us, may even be a few more Greats in there for some. Ellen died at the age of 67, in 1896.  120 years later her headstone need repair.

We have sourced a quote to replace her marble headstone and a couple of thousand is not even close to the restoration costs.  Over $850 for the headstone and then $18 per letter for engraving.  If you are able to chip in a little, collectively we should be able to do it.

Thomas Williams

Another one of our early pioneers and Great Grandparent, Thomas Williams, leaving England with his wife Zenobia, 3 of their children and 3 Harvey boys, children of Zenobia from a previous marriage.  They arrived in New Zealand in 1866, where Louisa (Williams) Baldwin was born.

1877 they purchased a farm, 320 acres at Ulupna, which is still owned by the family today.

Thomas at the age of 44, died of phthisis exhaustion – or in English as we would know it – TB.  This was a common death for miners.  Thomas mined back in Tavistock.  West Melbourne had a hospital for TB patients and it was here he spent his last days.  Buried in Melbourne General Cemetery in an unmarked grave, Nov 1882.

Years later, Melbourne General Cemetery in its wisdom buried over the top of the unmarked graves.  Thomas has never had a headstone and will now not be able too. However, we can place a plaque on a rock with his details.  Cost $500.

If you can help us with these cost in any way please let me know.  Donations of any size can be made to our HWMT account. 
 

Accommodation

Have you booked yet, remember due to the Waaia Tractor Pull being on the same weekend, accommodation will be booked out early.

Photos of our Armed Forces.

Don’t forget to dig up those photos of our Armed Forces in WWI & WWII. There would be nothing worse than getting to the reunion and finding all the other photos up, but your grandfather or mother is missing and knowing you have a photo at home.

Not Sure if you are coming

Have a read of what people had to say about the last reunion.

http://hwmtfamilyreunion.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/extended-reunion-reports-by-family.html

If this email is not getting to someone in the family most likely I don’t have their details. At the bottom of this email there is a link to add your details.

Till next time

Ben Williams

HWMT Family Reunion President

0409 946 866

03 9560 1800