30 March 2022

What lockdown?

 

Seems such a long time ago, but here in Victoria, it’s only the end of 2021 that we exited lockdowns of some sort or other.

What did you do during your time locked in the house? Did you still go out to work? Did yo work from home? Did you start a new hobby? Something I did (out of necessity) was learn how to get around ZOOM!!!! And it continues. Seems as if many organisations are opting for the Zoom meetings now.

I’m a member of the Port Phillip Pioneers Group – to be a member your ancestor must have arrived in the colony of Port Phillip (Victoria) prior to the gold rush (1851). My 3x great grandparents William Blay and Margaret (nee Tedder) arrived around the end of 1840, to the beginning of 1841. Their names do not appear on any shipping lists, so I can’t be sure when they set foot in the tent township of Melbourne. However, their fourth daughter, Elizabeth (my 2x great grandmother) was born in the Colony in June 1841. Hence, they are Port Phillip Pioneers. Anyway, one good thing about the Zoom meetings is that some organisations, like PPG, are continuing to use Zoom, which enables those who can’t get to the quarterly meetings, an opportunity to be part of the proceedings.

Now Vision Australia is helping me come to terms with my new world, I’m on Zoom for a meeting of some sort every other day. (Not quite, but it feels like it.) It can be a wonderful way to learn new things and be part of groups/communities, but I hope Zoom doesn’t become the only way people get together.

What is coming up?

I’m writing an article on William Blay for the Port Phillip Pioneers Group newsletter. Am still working through the biography of Sir William George McBeath (2x great uncle) have been side-tracked with new research, and preparing a talk for Heritage Month, which I’ll do on 30th April at Melton Library. The Heritage Month talk will focus on James McAra Mitchel, (pictured) manager of the Rockbank Sheep Station in the 1880s. He was married to my 2x great aunt, Mary Hamilton Allan. The sheep station was owned by Sir William John Clarke, and covered 54,000 acres. For those familiar with the western suburbs, the station ran from Sunbury, where Salesian College now occupies the Rupertswood mansion, to William Taylor’s property in Keilor (now Taylors Lakes), Staughton’s property (Eynesbury) and down to the Werribee River. Quite substantial. McAra Mitchel was a complicated and clever fellow who had a very sad ending.

Till next time 

Janeen

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