I am researching The SKENE family. They arrived from Kirkcudbright via Liverpool onboard the ship 'AUSTRALIA' arriving at Port Phillip on August 1852, settled at & near Mt Elephant Victoria. Listed are the children of George SKENE & Jane IRELAND with spouses their family connections in the Western District. (1)Janet Skene married: James KENNEDY 1852. HANNON: DEARING: (2)George Skene married Elizabeth NELSON/Neilson 1853. LEE: HOCKING: BATTY: ELBOURNE: MILLS: TURNER: BRANFORD: WILLIAMS: (3)Elizabeth Skene married: Joseph CLUFF at Mt Elephant 1853. WATSON: PARKINSON: MARTIN: BOURKE: (4)Robert Ireland Skene married: Elizabeth SHEARER 1854: DANIELS: HILL: CHRISTIE: PUGH: GAMBLE: O'HAGAN: BAIN: KERR: TRENGOVE: SMITH: VOWELS: (5)William Skene married: Johanna IRVING 1860: (6)Thomas Skene married: Hannah IRVING 1862: (Johanna & Hannah daughters of James IRVING & Ellen TODD of Scotland. Two more sisters Margaret Campell IRVING married:James TURNBULL 1853: Elizabeth IRVING married Richard Summers 1853:) GIDDINS: RYE: GLYNN: (7)Copeland Skene married: Mary Ann TOMKINS at Cape Clear 1869. settled in NSW. Cousin; William Wilson SKENE married: Alexandrina CAMERON (daughter of Allen CAMERON & Ellen STRONACH) at Lismore 1863. HOUSTON: DUFFY: PASCALL: CAIRNS: DEANE: HAY: LEE: JOHNSTON: ILLSEY MUNRO: McLEOD: HARE: Love to hear from anyone connected to any of the above families as a SKENE family book & reunion is in the planning for the year 2002. Regards Margaret Nixon.