Aunty Dot (technically an Aunt-in-law) passed away on July 14th at a nursing home on the Gold Coast. The family gathered at her home on August 4th to commemorate her life, especially the last nearly 40 years with her husband Ern. This is one of the times when being photographer competes with talking with family, too many of whom have not been seen for too long.
Yvonne, Peter and I flew up for the day. This is the scene out of the plane window.
Particularly appropriate for this day, as the middle of the photograph is Brisbane Water,
including Gosford, where Dot and Ern lived for quite a few years before heading north.
A little further north, though not much. The point in the middle is Norah Head,
with Budgewoi Lake inland. The large lake to the right is Lake Macquarie, and the
little one in the middle is Lake Munmorah. The ships are awaiting entrance to
Newcastle to load coal.
This is Grafton to the right of the Clarence River. The settlement on the left bank is,
surprisingly, called South Grafton!
After a slow drive up from the airport (Saturday morning does not seem to be
a particularly clever time to close lanes for road work) we arrived at the destination.
Cousins meeting again! Rowena, Yvonne and Peter. Rowena is the daughter Aunty Sis,
our mum's sister.
More arrivals. From left: Yvonne, Peter, Leanne (Rowena's daugther), Andrew
(Leanne's husband), Rowena and Sam - Rowena's grandson.
From left: Dawn, Rowena, Barry (Rowena's partner) and Robin.
Kitchen cousins: Peter, Yvonne, Rowena and Jenny (Rob's daughter). The man in the
middle on the lounge is Darryl, who added his own thoughts to the ceremony. Darryl also
spoke at Ron Pope's funeral, and has proven to be an excellent observer, capable of
adding amusing commentary, accurately describing the foibles of people he sees around
in a humorous and non-offensive manner.
Rowena caught me at this sneak photo, but Jenny hadn't caught on.
Curses! Foiled at the sneak photo of Rowena and Jenny.
It's nice to have another photographer to grab people's attention while taking
a sneak photo from off-centre. Yvonne, Rowena and Jenny.
Family snap; Joshua, Paula and Scarlet (Joshua's daughter) from the Melbourne branch
of the Brisbane family.
Chris (left) and Peter, among others on the patio.
Ern doing the rounds with the guests.
Ern.
Three generations! From left: Laura (Jenny's daughter), Dawn (Rob's daughter),
Rob, Rowena, Yvonne and Jenny (Rob's other daughter).
The same group as above, but in a line. From left: Dawn, Jenny, Rob, Yvonne, Rowena and
Laura.
The back yard of the house is quite small, though more than enough for Aunty
Dot to do her gardening.
Bit of fashion testing here! Dawn (left) wore this bright yellow cardigan,
so Yvonne tried it on. The yellow colour is very close to the fluorescent
colour used on safety vests! Dawn, as far as I am aware, is not in an
occupation requiring a safety vest.
2012