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,16th 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.
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.
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
