Hi Everyone, Here, for archival purposes, is the CAN YOU HELP? column published in The West Australian on Monday, February 6, 2006. Cheers....... Erica Hills ________________________________________ The CAN YOU HELP? column (incorporating REUNIONS) is compiled by Jenny KOHLEN and published on Mondays as a free service. E-mail your requests to <mailto:canyouhelp@wanews.com.au> or write to : Can You Help? "The West Australian," GPO Box N1027, Perth 6843. Fax (08) 9482 3830. Phone (08) 9482 3382 (Mon-Fri). <mailto:canyouhelp@wanews.com.au> ================================================================================= CAN YOU HELP? : Monday, February 6, 2006 (The West Australian p28) UNKNOWN SOLDIER FEEDBACK : Thanks to advice from readers, visitor Keith WARREN returned to Britain last Friday with hopes of a successful outcome in finding the name of the unknown Australian soldier (30/1). Keith was pointed in the direction of HMS Maidstone's passenger list from when it docked at Fremantle in September 1945. He also located the son of the artist ("WJ. VERRION"). Walter John VERRION served with the Royal Navy and migrated to South Australia just after the war. It is believed the unknown soldier — the subject of Walter's sketch — was one of only two Australians in the particular POW camp in Macassar. Any further information welcome. Contact: Keith Warren, 17 Worcester Road, Colchester, Essex, England C01 2RH, UK. BAIRD : Seeking descendants of James and Sarah BAIRD (nee WALKER), who travelled to Fremantle from Williamstown, Victoria, around 1896. James and Sarah had five children: James, Margaret (m. Edward BIDSTRUP), John, Ethyl (m. GAULT), Phyllis (m. Len GIBSON). There were at least nine grandchildren: Alex, Ray, Bill, Norma, Nola, Graeme, Brian, Thelma and Lance. Contact: Lesley Baird, Post Office Box 3266, Broome 6725. Tel: 9193 5409. mailto:lesleybaird@westnet.com.au BUNBURY HOUSE : Seeking information about the old house that stands on the corner of Carey and Wittenoom Streets, Bunbury (8 Carey Street). The house has recently been restored and it is hoped to compile and preserve its history while learning something about its occupants down through the years — especially in the early days. Some past owners include: Alice Hay MILLER (-1910), Hilda Elsa ANDREWS (-1913), Walter John BUSWELL (-1913), Josiah HALL (-1919) and Adar Willolmina ADAMS (-1920). Hoping to hear from anyone who has lived in the house or has photographs of the families taken at the time they lived there. Also pleased to hear from more recent owners. Contact: Rachel Yugovich, Post Office Box 87, Tom Price 6751. Tel: 0408 350 400. Fax: 9189 1907. mailto:rachi78@bigpond.net.au CLARK : Eliza Jane (Jean) CLARK was born in Bendigo, Victoria, in 1889 and came to WA about 1909 with her parents, William Henry and Jane CLARK. She lived in Northam and Subiaco and never married. Seeking any information about the life of Eliza (Jean). Contact: Margaret Green, Post Office Box 635, Esperance 6450. Tel/fax 9076 1112. mailto:billminigreen@bigpond.com DANS/FOSTER FEEDBACK : Nan Scott from Ipswich writes: "I'm sure my Brazilian relative will be delighted (19/12). The response was immediate and I had the pleasure of speaking to two people, as well as sending them off the incomplete family tree. Again, many thanks." — Nan Scott, Post Office Box 219, Ipswich, Qld. PARTNERS OF VETERANS BURNS BEACH : The next meeting will be held at the Jack Kikeros Hall, Burns Beach, on Tuesday February 14 at lpm. The change of day and time this month is to allow members to attend the PVA Awareness meeting in Bunbury later in the week. All partners or ex-partners of veterans are welcome to attend this friendly group for a chat and a "cuppa". Contact: Jenny, 9304 6824 or Ellen, 9401 4031. VETERANS BRITISH EX-SERVICES ASSOCIATION : Membership is open to all ex-service men and women who have served in any of the British forces at any time. Associate membership is also open to partners or relatives of former British servicemen or women. Inquiries welcome. Contact: Jean Harris, 9247 1009. mailto:britishex@optusnet.com.au. HMAS HOBART ASSOCIATION (WA): An AGM will be held at the Bicton-Palmyra RSL, Foss Street, Bicton, on Sunday February 19 at 11am sharp. All ex-crew members of both the cruiser and destroyer Hobart are cordially invited. Contact: Gareth Watts, 9495 1541. mailto:dg_watts@westnet.com.au. OSBORNE PARK RSL : Members and affiliates are advised the AGM will be held on Wednesday February 8 at lpm sharp (not 2pm as previously notified). A normal general meeting to follow. Refreshments etc. will be available on completion of the two meetings. Contact: Bill Sullivan, 9349 2797. VIETNAM VETERANS' ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (WA) : The branch will hold its AGM at Anzac Cottage, 38 Kalgoorlie Street, Mt Hawthorn, on Sunday February 19 at 10am. Contact: Philomena Trevor-Hunt, 9593 0638. --- FAMILY REUNIONS GRIFFITHS : Descendants of Samual and Elizabeth GRIFFITHS are invited to a picnic at the Cottesloe Civic Centre on Saturday March 4 from noon until 5pm. Samual and Elizabeth were in Kanowna in 1900 during the goldrush before moving to Dowerin about 1908. Contact: Ron Griffiths, 9330 1160. ST GERTRUDE'S (NEW NORCIA) : Historical data relating to St Gertrude's College, New Norcia, from its founding year of 1908 to 1977 is being compiled. Organisers are searching for names of students, particularly of the early years prior to 1937. Do you remember the maiden names of mothers, aunts, cousins etc, and the approximate years they may have attended? Married names and former towns from which they came would also be appreciated. Grateful for replies before February 28. Contact: Sr Elizabeth Murphy, Post Office Box 503, South Perth 6951. Fax: 9368 5717. mailto:emurphy@sosjwa.org.au --- GOVT EMPLOYEES' HOUSING : Honours student is seeking all those connected with the Government Employees' Housing Authority (GEHA) — past and present tenants, board members, GEHA, Homes-west, Department of Housing & Works, Building Management Authority, Contract & Management Services staff and contractors. All are encouraged to share any GEHA stories and experiences. Copies of photographs would be most helpful (original documents returned to sender). GEHA celebrates 40 years on August 2 and responses will contribute to a written history to be completed early 2007. Contact: Danielle Faulkner, 0417 090 835; or Lisbet Schafers, Government Housing Authority, 99 Plain Street, East Perth 6004. Items can also be dropped at their office in the Old Shenton Park Hotel, 203 Nicholson Road. mailto:faulkdO2@student.uwa.edu.au STANLEY : Descendants of George and Isabella STANLEY (nee WILSON), who were married in York in the late 1890s, are invited to a reunion to be held on the Fremantle Esplanade Park on Easter Sunday, April 16, at 11am. George and Isabella settled in the Dalwallinu area. They had 11 children (not in order): William, Agnes (m. JOY), George/"Alex", Walter, Mary (m. MCCARTNEY), Arthur, Winifred, Phos, Hilda/Tat" (m. PEDEN), Les and Vivian. George was a railway ganger and the couple retired to Wagin. Contact: Bob Stanley, 9293 2136. mailto:janbobrus@bigpond.com HUSSEY : Information is sought about descendants of Francis Leitch HUSSEY and Eliza KING, who were married at Upper Swan on April 22, 1865. Their children were Margaret (born 1866), Blanche, Percival Leitch (1869), Alice (1871), Bertram Fowler (1873), Rose Alice (1875), Stanley Francis Leitch (1877) and Ernest, who died young. Contact: Barbara King, 223 Westview Street, Scarborough 6019. Tel: 93414389. HYDER : Information is sought from descendants and relatives of Bertha HYDER (nee HEDGES), the only child of Gilbert Charles and Lissie HEDGES (nee SHARRAT), of Melbourne. Bertha married in Melbourne in 1916 and the family lost touch in 1922. Contact: D. Greenway, 78 Donegal Road, Floreat Park 6014. Tel: 9387 5913. HOOSON : English cousin planning to visit Perth from April 8-15 would be interested to meet any family of James Rushworth HOOSON and his wife Dolly (nee LEADBEATER). He has family history about their forebears to pass on. James and Dolly left Halifax for Perth about 1922. James was an engineer and worked for the WA railways. Contact (before March 5 or after April 20): Mrs M. Lister, 23 Pye Nest Rise, Halifax, W. Yorkshire, England H22 7HJ, UK. mailto:jennykinglO9@btinternet.com McAULIFFE : Patrick John McAULIFFE was born in Newport, Isle of Wight, about 1863 and sailed to Australia as a small child with his family about 1864-66. Patrick married Ellen COLLINS in 1887 and they had six children: Mary, Herbert, Hannah, Eugene, Myrtle and Joy. Patrick died in Norseman in 1902 and Ellen remarried to Edwin DAVEY. The writer is a descendant of Patrick's brother Augustine and would love to hear from Patrick's descendants. Contact: Patricia Macneil, 45 Elizabeth Avenue, Clontarf, Qld 4019. Tel: (07) 3284 6038. mailto:trisnmacn@optusnet.com.au NELSON SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA : The first meeting for the new year will be held at St Michael's Church Hall, corner The Promenade and Gunbower Road, Mt Pleasant, on Monday February 13 at 7pm. A time capsule will be put to rest in the memorial garden of St Michael's followed by a lecture from society chairman, Mike SARGEANT, at 7.30pm on the subject of "Nelson's funeral". Admission free to members and visitors welcome. Contact: Roger Pipe, 9310 1651 SCULPTOR PLEA : The Collie Retired Mine Workers' Association is seeking a wooden, fibreglass or fibre-cement sculpture of a horse (life-size, about 15 to 16hh). The horse is to be placed in Pheonix Park alongside the coal skip from previous mining times to represent the pit horses of yesteryears. If anyone can help or knows of anyone who can construct one please get in touch. Contact: Kevin Kimberley, 12 Wittenoom Street, Collie 6225. Tel: 9734 1496. mailto:rozsprigg@bigpond.com SHEEP STATION : Correspondent from Canada wants to learn about his late father's journey to Australia as a young man. Woolford Evelyn WESTALL arrived at Fremantle on September 18,1928, on the Orsova. He was accepted as an immigrant and "fit to work". Woolford was employed by a Mrs MARTIN on a sheep station about 320km north of Perth or possibly around Carnarvon. Hoping to hear from descendants of Mrs MARTIN or any of the other workers on her property to help fill in some blanks about Woolford's life in WA. What was the size and name of the station? Where was it? Woolford died in 1966 and his wife died in 2000. Contact: Wilfred Westall, 696 Borebank Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3N 1G2. SMITH : George Smith was born about 1818. He married Mary Victoria KELLY in Greenough in 1861 and died on October 10,1873. Question: was he convict No. 672? If so, what was his crime? Hoping to clarify conflicting information. Contact: Lynne Golding, 9361 3155. mailto:dgold8@bigpond.net.au THREE SPRINGS : Seeking any information about the building/residence known as the Old Presbytery located east of Three Springs in the general direction of the Three Springs golf course. It was possibly built by Michael BROWN. A Catholic Priest lived there at one time - hence the name but it was also used as a residence and a hospital. Contact: Betty Plunkett, 36 Daglish Street, Wembley 6014. Tel: 9381 9194. mailto:charlene2@iinet.net.au --End--