Hi List, This message is posted on behalf of Lori at loribyn@corplink.com.au because she and I are having a bounce problem. Cheers Linda - ------------------------------------ John MacDonald came from Baleshare, an island off the coast of North Uist, near Inverness, Scotland. He selected land in the Genoa River area about the mid to late 1880's. He took over the block after it had been thrown open to selection and after it had been forfeited by people named Cousins. At the same time he also took over a block on the opposite side of the Genoa River to Smith's (now DeGeus property) forfeited by Gilian. His son Lachlan MacDonald, lived there briefly when bark stripping. In 1900 he (John) went to Gabo Island as head lighthouse keeper but retired in 1915 to live on his selection 'Inverness Farm' at Gipsy Point. He was a noted bagpipe player, a stickler for correct Highland dress and, so it is said, a distiller of Scotch whisky. (Another book I have said he retired in 1903) R Cameron built the MacDonald cottage with the help of two MacDonald sons, Lachlan and Tom. Later this cottage was removed by John's son in law, Leo Coco. Mrs MacDonald was drowned during the record flood of 1919. She was washed away from a wrecked dinghy. John was also swept away but was noticed by some people at Gipsy Point and Ray Kiernan and Tom MacDonald jumped into a row boat and saved him near Cape Horn. MacDonalds work shed was also swept away. John MacDonald owned the boat 'Lightning' and used her when travelling between Gabo Island and Gipsy Point. MacDonald children: Lachlan married Nellie Smith, Tom, Lea married Ned Smith, Catherine married Leo Coco. Lea and Ned moved to Cabbage Tree Creek. John and Hannah are buried at Gipsy Point cemetery. There is also a Flora Ellen MacDonald buried there in 1930. Leo Coco was buried there in 1963 and his wife Catherine in 1978. Land was set aside for the Gipsy Point cemetery in 1912 and Hannah MacDonald was the first person to be buried there. I trust this is of some help/interest. Regards Lori