Gold Freemason’s pin
A tiny article of jewellery passed down through my family is a gold pin. On one side is a Freemason’s sign and on the other the Lord’s prayer – so tiny you can hardly make out the words…
Gunner Forwood on HMS Endeavour
Stephen Forwood, born abt 1737, was the Gunner on Captain James Cook’s HMS Endeavour during its epic journey of discovery…
Bessie Irene Bastin
Bessie Irene Bastin was an attractive young lady who married John Thomas Forwood after he returned from fighting in WWI…
A forgotten pewter plate
An intriguing lost family story is that of my seven times great grandparents Sarah Batt and James Gaite who married 6 September 1767 in Flax-Bourton, Somerset, England…
“Mr Hockey”: Allan Taylor
Allan Taylor had many titles over his life “King of the respirator kids”, “Mr Hockey” and “Tate”. No matter what he put his talents to he led and inspired…
Alfred Baker: Baker of Taree
While Alfred Baker was born into a shipbuilding family, his taste and skills for baking was stronger…
George Albert Chapman
George Albert Chapman was born in Raymond Terrace and in 1880, aged 23, he walked up the beach to the Wallamba looking for a place to settle…
Mervyn Chapman
Mervyn Chapman was born in 1918. His trip from Taree Hospital to his home on Chapman Island in the Wallamba River was a perilous journey on the back of a motorcycle…
Daphne Irene Chapman: A flair for hair
Growing up between two world wars Daphne Chapman knew what it was like to go without. Using her flair for hair styling she realised she could…
Maud Mabel Wilkes
In June 1917 Maud Mabel Wilkes married the Cape Hawke Regatta Champion Rower Albert George Chapman…