Hi All, It is wonderful to see so many people subscribing to this new list. In the first 24 hours of this list we have had 47 subscribers in list mode and 25 in digest mode! What a great start! I had been wishing that some one would start this one but then decided to take the plunge and do it myself!! Hopefully we will all make many connections. To give you a bit of my interest in this area. Both my main lines originate in the Western Districts. My SHARROCKS arrived in Geelong in July 1848 and by the early 1850's were located in Penshurst on a property called "Lovely Banks". There are still many Sharrock descendants in the area. My DOWN line started with Henry Down arriving in Portland in 1856 as a young man of 21. Again many descendants are still in the area. I don't want to make this too long, so please enjoy the list. If you have any problems or wish to discuss something off the list with me - my email address is debralr@iprimus.com.au. My inbox is always open! Best of luck in your research Debbie Down Werribee, Vic List Admin