Hi Everyone, Here, for archival purposes, is the CAN YOU HELP? column published in The West Australian on Monday, 19 December, 2005. 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, 19 December, 2005 (The West Australian p31) =========================================================== AUSTRALIAN BRAVERY ASSOCIATION : The next social function and barbecue for current and prospective members will be held on Sunday January 22 from 11am. Despite the weather, the last get-together was a most enjoyable and successful day. Contact: Vic Boreham, 9337 8885. mailto:boreham_2@optusnet.com.au BAKER : Information and photographs are sought for family history about John Samuel Herbert BAKER and Alberta Alice STEWART of Norseman. Children: Herbert Windsor, Edna May (m. BUCKLEY), Doris Victoria (m. CLARK), Eric Earlton (died 1958), Ernest George and Ronald Edward. Contact: Wayne Brown, 53 McGregor Road, Gisborne, Vic 3437. Tel: (03) 5428 4032. mailto:barratay@bigpond.net.au BENNETT : The family tree is being updated and information is sought about descendants of Charles BENNETT and Amelia Frances HOLGATE who were married in Busselton in 1903. Contact: Mrs D. Holgate, 87 Reynolds Street, Busselton 6280. Tel: 9752 1923. COUNTRY CALLING ROTARY CLUB OF BUNBURY LESCHENAULT : A 25th anniversary dinner will be held at the Parade Hotel, Bunbury, on Friday February 24, 2006. All past members interested in attending are asked to respond as soon as possible. Contact: Neville Eastman, 9721 2105 (a/h). GIBSON FOOTBALL CLUB : Seeking email or postal addresses for all past players, coaches and members to attend 50th anniversary celebrations to be held at the Gibson Football Club rooms over the long weekend in June 2006. Memorabilia and scanned photographs would also be appreciated. Contact: Sharon Baldock, 90721112 (a/h). mailto:sharon.baldock@landmark.com.au DANS / FOSTER : Alfred John DANS and Elizabeth Rachel FOSTER were married in Happy Valley, Victoria, on January 16,1895. Their first son, Alfred John, was born in Victoria on November 18,1895. Their second son, Keith, was born in Perth in 1897. Keith had four children: Lilian May, Adeline Pearl, Frank Leonard and Gladys Marion. Elizabeth Rachel's sister, Annie Eliza May FOSTER, was the writer's grandmother. In Victoria, four younger brothers included Donald Frederick FOSTER whose grandson, Eric FOSTER, lives in Brazil. Eric is working on the Foster family tree and is hoping to be put in touch with descendants of Alfred and Elizabeth and any other connections. Contact: Nan Scott, Post Office Box 219, Ipswich, Qld 4305. DAVIES / RATCLIFFE : Information is sought about descendants of Elizabeth Jane RATCLIFFE who was born in Tollamba, Victoria, in 1879. She married Thomas Herbert DAVIES in 1902 and eventually settled in WA. Elizabeth was the daughter of William and Fanny RATCLIFFE (nee JONES). Contact: Lynn Harrison, 42 Gowrie Street, Tatura, Vic 3616. Tel: (03) 5824 1867. DRAPER : Annie Louisa ASSENDORF and Robert DRAPER were married in Fremantle in 1894. They had six children: Albert Henry (b. 1895), John James (1897), Harriett (1902), Beatrice May 1904) William Joseph (1908) and Charles Frederick (1910). Daughters, Harriett married George James MONTEITH in 1924 and Beatrice married William MOUTON. Descendants are sought for research about the LAW family history. Contact: Jeanette Lee, 8 Rive Place, Thornlie 6108. Tel: 9459 3280. Email: jeanettelee@bigpond.com FAMILY REUNIONS HYMUS : The Year 2005 marks the 450th anniversary of the birth of ancestor Johannes HIMMUS in Ashdon, Essex, England. All descendants of Frederick and Phoebe HYMUS of Australind, Barragup, Mowerinup, Rockingham and elsewhere are invited to meet at Bell Park on the Rockingham foreshore/beach (opposite the Rockingham Arms Hotel) on Tuesday December 27 at 10. 30am to celebrate Johannes' 450th birthday and 164 years of the HYMUS family in Western Australia. Frederick and Phoebe Hymus arrived at Australind in 1841. They had 10 surviving children with connections to the MOIR, DAY, SMIRK, SLOAN, BIRCH and HYMUS families. All welcome. Bring sunscreen, a picnic and your photos. The Rockingham Museum will open from 2-4pm with HYMUS and related displays. Contact: Dawn Hymus, 9490 6068 or Anthea Lowe in Ceduna (08) 8625 3168. mailto:richardsonlowe@hotmail.com FARRANT : Seeking the family of Frederick and Elizabeth FARRANT (nee BROWNE) of Collie. Their children were John Frederick Carswell FARRANT (born 1901), Freda Annie (1903) and Lance (1908). Elizabeth died in Collie in 1953 and Frederick died in Wellington in 1918. Contact: Julie Allen, 53 Brilliant Street, Bathurst, NSW 2795. mailto:mickjuliepat@ozemail.com.au === GEORGETTE WRECK PAINTING : A painting of the wreck, Georgette, was published in The West Australian on December 2, 1933. It accompanied an article written by "AFS", headed, An heroic deed: AUSTRALIA'S GRACE DARLING — TALE OF THE "GEORGETTE" WRECK. The caption reads: "An artist's conception of the scene when Miss Vernon Grace BUSSELL and her stockman, Sam ISAACS, rescued passengers when the Georgette was wrecked on the Western Australian coast on December 1,1876." Does anyone know the name of the artist and where the painting is held today? Contact: Edel Wignell, Post Office Box 2484, Rowville, Vic 3178. KALGOORLIE TRAGEDIES : The CBC Kalgoorlie Old Boys are searching for the family or descendants of Richard Arthur CORBETT, who was a student at CBC when he was accidentally drowned in the Vic. Park swimming pool in Kalgoorlie on January 1,1918. Also, student George RADLEY, who was accidentally killed in a tram accident on December 2,1943. A memorial garden has been established for boys who died while students at the school. The group would like to pass on a memento to their families. Contact: CBC Kalgoorlie Old Boys, Post Office Box 236, Kalgoorlie 6433. Tel: 90212585, or 0417 987 125. MOBILGAS RALLY : A Chamberlain Champion Tractor participated in the 1957 Mobilgas Round Australia Rally acting as the official sweep vehicle, so earning the nickname "Tail End Charlie". To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event in 2007, a replica "Tail End Charlie" (the original is in the Tractor Museum in Whiteman Park) will stage a re-enactment, starting and completing the original route in the same time-frame (i.e. 18,000km in 19 days). Organisers are seeking any information about the 1957 rally — e.g. route details, stopover points and any other relevant detail. It is proposed that support vehicles will be involved and expressions of interest to participate are invited. Contact: Ron Bywaters, Post Office Box 108, Wooroloo 6558. Tel: 9573 6696. mailto:kerryby@bigpond.com OLD BOOKS : THE STORY OF ROCK VALE AND MALABINE, by Alfred LAWRENCE and Lorraine EDDY, is sought. The book is a family history about the FARMER, LAWRENCE, HITCHCOCK and EDDY families, published by the authors in Bentley in 1979. Contact: Hazel Sherry (nee Farmer), 28 Johnstone Street, Boddington 6390. ORANGE VALLEY PROJECT : The writer is recording the history of Orange Valley for a rural heritage project. The goal is to compile a manual suitable for use by health walkers, history buffs and genealogists. Descendants of people who settled land stretching down into Orange Valley from Lesmurdie and Falls roads (Lesmurdie) and Canning, Cotherstone, and Alpine roads in Kalamunda are invited to contribute information (300 words maximum). Include full names of ancestors, dates, how they arrived in WA (ship, camel, bullock wagon, etc.), why they settled in Orange Valley and to what use they put the land. Seeking descendants of these past residents among others: KELSALL, Richard URCH, ARDUINO, Isaac Bloomer JACKS, T. JECKS, E. HARRIS, L A. YOUNG, BLAMIRE family (woodcutters), Judges HENNING and STONE and Mrs IND. Contact: Gael Connell, 58 Betti Road, Kalamunda 6076. Tel: 9293 3906 (after 7pm). mailto:vildulac@iinet.net.au PARKHURST BOYS : The WA Genealogical Society's Convict Group has now opened the group to descendants of the Parkhurst Boys. The group's next meeting will be held at WAGS, Unit 1,48 May Street, Bayswater, on Sunday January 8 at 1.30pm. Guest speaker, Andrew GILL will give a talk about the Parkhurst Boys. Anyone with an interest in this topic is welcome. Contact: Audrey Holland, 9274 2042. RANDALL / OSBORNE : Irene RANDALL arrived at Pinjarra's Fairbridge Farm School about 1934. Also arriving under the same migrant scheme was a boy named Sydney OSBORNE. The two married in 1937. Sydney enlisted in World War II as a member of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion. He was killed in Sandakan, Borneo, on June 21,1945. Sydney was 27 and left behind a wife and two sons. A letter in Irene's file mentions a boy named "Michael" also an "Ethel OSBORNE". Did Irene have a brother named Michael RANDALL? Did Syd have a sister named Ethel? Hoping to hear from any living relatives in Australia. Contact: Brian Osborne, 7 Lanagan Rise, South Lake 6164. Tel: 9417 7210. ROCKINGHAM VOLUNTEERS : : Rockingham District Historical Society is a non-profit organisation managing the Rockingham Museum. It is open five days a week, Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday-Sunday from lpm to 4pm. To make it possible to continue these hours, the society needs volunteers to man the front desk. Two volunteers are rostered on duty at any time. Volunteers are also needed within the society in a variety of roles. Membership costs $8.80 (single) or $11 (double). Contact: the society, 9592 3455, or call into the museum, corner Kent Street and Flinders Lane, Rockingham, during the above hours. WHITE : Information is sought for family history about descendants of James Richard WHITE and Bridget BUTLER, who were married in York in 1866. Seeking their burial place. Children included Mary Jane WHITE, born Perth in 1873. There is a possibility James died in Broome or Kununurra in the 1900s. Contact: Ms M. Dixon, 10 Rountree Way, Marmion 6020. Tel: 9448 6998. WILKINS : Henry WILKINS and Eliza PAYNE (nee VAUGHAN) were married in the county of Monmouth, England, on August 30, 1846. They sailed to Australia on the Travencore but Eliza died on board with their two daughters, Dinah and Harriet. Their son Jacob survived along with Eliza's son from her first marriage, John, aged 9. The Travencore arrived at Fremantle on January 13,1853. Henry WILKINS remarried to Bridget CANADY / KENNEDY, who also travelled on the Travencore. Bridget died in Little Stirling Street, Perth, in 1900 and Henry died in Spearwood in 1918. Seeking descendants of Henry and Eliza's son, Jacob, and his half-brother, John WILKINS. Also, any descendants of Henry and his second wife Bridget. Contact: Tricia Miller, 42 Hovea Crescent, Wundowie 6560. Tel: 0419 966 086; or Helen Cleak, 9144 2318. mailto:hfcleak@bigpond.com WOODS / BLECHYNDEN : The Battye Library is holding a lost file of research on the WOODS / BLECHYNDEN families. The owner is welcome to claim it from the library inquiry desk. Contact: 9427 3291. VETERANS ROLL CALL: Members of the 17TH NATIONAL SERVICE BATTALION, C COMPANY SERVICE CORP. A 50th reunion will be held at the Ravenswood Hotel, Pinjarra Road, on Saturday, February 4. Organisers are still trying to locate several members who appear in a photo, which was taken in January 1956. Looking for: Dave SMITH, Tom EDWARDS, Doc GRAY, Ian FLEMING, Alec ROJOSKI, Barry ARMSTRONG, Rod ARCHER, Jeff DANIELL, Keith WILSON, Peter BROWN, Basil BYRNE, John IRVINE, Richard OXENBURGH, Barry JOHNSTON, Lt Dave SOLOMON and Sgt Jack HILL. Contact: Kelvin Lavater, 9305 0662, Roy Porter, 9408 1935, or Graham Franklin, 9797 0002. =================================================================================== REUNIONS NEPTUNES SOFTBALL CLUB (ROCKINGHAM): A 25th anniversary reunion celebration will be held in Rockingham on Saturday February 4, 2006, at 6.30pm. Anyone who has been involved with Neptunes or with the Rockingham and Districts Softball Club is invited to attend. Cost: $10 a person. Please reply for tickets and RSVP. Contact: Linda De Boni, 9527 8217. ROYAL PERTH HOSPITAL : Trainees from 2/56 are planning a 50th anniversary lunch to be held on Sunday February 12. Contact: Dianne Walsh (Fitzgerald), 9245 2912 or Rhonda Algaba (Hills), 9276 7286. mailto:rhondaalgaba@bigpond.com. HOLLYWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL : Past students who began their schooling at Hollywood Primary School in 1946 are invited to a reunion to be held on Sunday February 12. Contact: Graham Rankin 9454 5048, Michael Thornber 9496 0196, or Jocelyn Elphick, 9754 2721. TUART HILL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL : Seeking students who attended Year 10 in 1977 or Year 12 in 1979 — and their teachers. Is anyone interested in holding a get-together? Contact: Maria Scott, Post Office Box 1195, Canning Vale 6970. Tel: 0429 348 966. PALMYRA PRIMARY SCHOOL : The annual reunion for all past students — from any year — will be held at the Bicton Quarantine Reserve on Sunday February 19 at 10am. BYO picnic and mailto:valray6163@yahoo.com.au Clontarf class : Looking for the boys from the Salters Point and Manning area who attended Clontarf Christian Brothers School in the Year 10 Class of 1968. Reunion plans are under way. Contact: John Mclntosh, 9362 3904. HMAS HAWKESBURY : A reunion of wartime, postwar and Monte Bello crews will be held at Gulgong, NSW, from March 21-23, 2006. Expressions of interest are sought as soon as possible. Contact: Roy Reynolds, 9349 4161. --End--