Australia Day Geneameme

Recently, Aussie genealogy blogger, Jill, aka Geniaus put out a reminder of an Australia Day Geneameme that was devised by Pauleen, aka CassmobCASSMOB in 2014. This meme is still current today, so I’m taking up the “C’mon Aussie” call to reply. Big thanks to both Pauleen and Jill.

My first ancestor to arrive in Australia was Thomas Jones. I haven’t been able to find any information about his arrival. I know that he was in Tasmania in 1839, when his son was born. His wife was informant on his death certificate and she noted that he came to Australia as military.

I have Australian Royalty: My 4x great grandmother, Hanorah Ahern, was convicted of stealing and transported to Australia for seven years on the SS Catherine. 

I’m an Aussie mongrel, my ancestors came to Oz from: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Did any of your ancestors arrive under their own financial steam? A few did, but most were assisted immigrants

How many ancestors came as singles? Only a few. 

How many came as couples? Andrew Louden and Elizabeth Anderson were married in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1852. They left Scotland five months later on the Aberfoyle, bound for Australia.

How many came as family groups? Most of my ancestors came with children, as family groups.

Did one person lead the way and others follow? My 2x great grandfather, Farquhar Morison came out in 1848. There were others who followed. My 2x great grandmother Ellen Boyle, came to Australia as part of the Earl Grey Famine orphan scheme. Eight years later, her mother, brother and her brother’s children followed her out to Australia.

What’s the longest journey they took to get here? They all came from Britain, so the journey was long for everyone

Did anyone make a two-step emigration via another place? Not that I know about.

Which state(s)/colony did your ancestors arrive? NSW, Tasmania, Victoria, and a few to South Australia

Did they settle and remain in one state/colony? A few who arrived in NSW, went on to Tasmania. Members of the Jones and McQueen families moved to Victoria, from Tasmania. There were Victorians who found their way to NSW and Queensland.

Did they stay in one town or move around? There were many who moved around to follow the gold rush and also other work.

Do you have any First Australians in your tree? No, I haven’t come across any.

Were any self-employed? A few were self employed

What occupations or industries did your earliest ancestors work in? They were mostly farmers and labourers.

Does anyone in the family still follow that occupation? I would say there are few farmers but probably many labourers

Did any of your ancestors leave Australia and go “home” No they all stayed in Australia

NOW IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU

What’s your State of Origin? Victoria

Do you still live there? Yes

Any special place you like to holiday now? At the moment, it’s The Sunshine Coast, Queensland, where my son and grandchildren live.

Share your favourite spot in Oz: Falls Creek, in the Victorian High Country

Falls Creek Waterfall 

What’s on your Australian holiday bucket list? I would like to travel to King Island, in the Bass Street. I have family members who died there in Australia’s largest civilian maritime disaster. I would like to see the memorial that has been erected, and visit the museum that commemorates the event.

How do you celebrate Australia Day? When I was President of a local community group, the day always began early with an Aussie Barbie breakfast followed by an Australia Day ceremony. These days we have a relaxing day at home usually. This year on Australia Day, we will be heading to Bright at the foothills of the Victorian Alps, for a week’s holiday.

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