Dead Discussions

 At our July monthly meeting our theme of death engendered  some lively discussions that were serious and sometimes tinged with humour.

The Discussion Group was directed by our member Jan who, prior to the meeting, had provided a useful set of discussion points. That members were generous and felt comfortable in sharing personal reflections and stories resulted in a most successful session. We heard stories of people going out under the cover of darkness to scatter a loved ones ashes, tales of trying to locate death records and the disappointment of visiting a cemetery to find a bare unmarked lot as an ancestor's final resting place. Several members discussed the usefulness of FindaGrave as a resource. One member even brought along as a prop an empty ashes urn from a crematorium. At the end of the allocated hour those present agreed to extend the session and continue the conversation.

There are over 30,000 entries related to Lake Macquarie on FindaGrave

 

Our Guest Speaker was our own member Jill who further explored death with a focus on end of life celebrations and final resting places in a presentation "Six Feet Under Downunder". Contributions from members throughout this session added further depth to the talk.

It was rewarding to note that those in attendance felt that our Group provided a comfortable environment to relate personal stories on a sometimes taboo subject.

Following (in order of presentation) are links to the websites mentioned in Six Feet Under Downunder. 

Death: the last taboo   https://australian.museum/about/history/exhibitions/death-the-last-taboo/

Aboriginal Burials Fact Sheet  https://www.firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-04/Aboriginal-burials-fact-sheet_0.pdf

Guidelines for Aboriginal cultural and spiritual requirements for burial and cremation in NSW 
https://www.cemeteries.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/guidelines-for-aboriginal-cultural-and-spiritual-requirements-for-burial-and-cremation-in-nsw.pdf  

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Deaths   https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/deaths-australia/latest-release

Green Burials  https://jamesmurray.com.au/eco-friendly-funeral-options-a-guide-to-sustainable-farewells/

Cremation Jewellery  https://keepsakejewellery.com.au/collections/cremation-jewellery

Memorial Forest Pipers Ridge  https://www.pipersridge.com.au/

Southern Cryonics  https://www.sandbox.southerncryonics.com/

Aquamation  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_cremation

Terramation  https://returnhome.com/return-home-process/

Salvos Funerals  https://salvosfunerals.com.au/

Biographical Database of Australia  https://www.bda-online.org.au/

What you can expect to see on an historical* AUS BDM certificate  https://www.jaunay.com/bdm.html

Civil Registration NSW  https://www.nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/family-history-search

Probate and Estate Files at Museums of History NSW  https://mhnsw.au/archive/subjects/?filter=guides

NSW Online Probate Notices  (2013-)  https://onlineregistry.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/content/search-probate-notices

ARK Kit  https://mhnsw.au/guides/archives-resources-kit/

Sydney, Australia, Anglican Parish Registers, 1814-2011 (need Ancestry Sub)

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61177

Trove https://trove.nla.gov.au/  

Newcastle Herald Tributes and Funerals  https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/tributes-funerals/

Sydney Morning Herald Death Notices  https://tributes.smh.com.au/au/obituaries/smh-au/browse

Ryerson Index Search  https://ryersonindex.org/search.php

Australian Family Histories: a Bibliography & Index  https://familyhistory.asn.au/

Obituaries Australia  https://oa.anu.edu.au/

Deaths and Funeral Notices Australia  https://deathsandfunerals.com.au/

Familysearch Australia, Cemetery Inscriptions, 1800-1960  
https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1534449

Metropolitan Memorial Parks Find a Loved One  https://www.metropolitanmemorialparks.com.au/find-a-loved-one

Bathurst Cemetery Index  https://library.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/Research-History/Bathurst-Cemetery-Index

Waverley Cemeteries Finding Loved Ones  
https://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/cemeteries/finding_loved_ones

LMFHG Librarything Catalogue  https://www.librarything.com/profile/LMFHG

Australian Cemeteries Index  https://www.austcemindex.com/

CWGC Find War Dead  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/

Hawkesbury Cemetery and Grave Register  https://www.hawkesbury.net.au/cemetery/index.html

Billion Graves  https://billiongraves.com/

FindaGrave  https://www.findagrave.com/

James Murray Funerals Newcastle Search  https://jamesmurray.com.au/live-streaming/

Barbara King Funerals Search  https://www.barbarakingfunerals.com.au/obituaries

Meeting this Saturday

The theme for our meeting on Saturday relates to death, an important event in everyone's lives. As family historians we seek answers to these questions about our ancestors.

Where, when and how did, they die?

Where are they resting.

Visitors are welcome at all of our meetings.

Death of Old Identity

1921 'OLD IDENTITY', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 15 November, p. 4. , viewed 16 Sept 2025, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162801396

100 Years Ago - A Family of Fields

Mrs Edith Field of Awaba, who passed away 100 years ago, left behind a large family of descendants.

1925 'AWABA.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 25 September, p. 8. , viewed 22 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139862908

Vale Warren James Oliver - 1937-2024

Members of The Lake Macquarie Family History Group Group were saddened to hear of the death of Warren Oliver, our past secretary, in hospital on 9th September, 2024,

Warren Oliver 2021

Warren James Oliver was born on June 24,1937 in Sydney, New South Wales. From an early age, Warren showed a love for his home and community. He spent his childhood and teenage years in the Sydney suburb of Northbridge, where he played water polo and rugby and formed friendships that lasted a lifetime.

In 1958, when living in Laguna Road, Northbridge, Warren began his career as a cadet engineer. His ambition and dedication to engineering led him to North Sydney Technical College, where he completed his training. In 1963 he added to his qualifications when he graduated from the University of New South Wales with a degree in engineering, officially launching a successful career that would span decades.

Warren's personal life blossomed alongside his professional achievements. In 1962, he met the love of his life, Louise Maria Taylor, on a blind date. A year later, in 1963, they were married in Sydney, and set up their first home in Stafford Road, Artarmon, marking the beginning of a lifelong partnership filled with love, support, and adventure.

In 1965, Warren and his young family moved to Cobar, in western New South Wales, where he accepted a position as Shire Engineer, overseeing a vast area of 44,000 square kilometres. He served in this role for an impressive 29 years, dedicating himself to the community and its development. While living in Cobar, an isolated area, Warren's passion for flying grew, and he earned his pilot's license, even owning his own plane.

When Warren retired from his role as Shire Engineer, he and Louise relocated to the serene shores of Lake Macquarie at Bolton Point. Even in retirement, Warren couldn’t resist working, often taking on consultative engineering jobs in Western New South Wales. His strong sense of duty extended beyond his work life; he was actively involved in several community organizations and continued his service to others.

One of Warren’s lifelong hobbies was stamp collecting, a passion that began in his youth and grew throughout his life. He became a dedicated member of the Newcastle Philatelic Society where he won the 2014 Annual Award in the experienced section for his entry “The New South Wales Sydney Views” a display covering the Id, 2d and 3d stamp issues.  His stamp collection was a testament to his meticulous nature and deep interest in history and culture.

Warren was also a dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Toronto, where he exemplified the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self." Whether selling raffle tickets in the main street of Toronto or organizing charity events, he always found ways to give back to the community. As a member of the Fellowship of Flying Rotarians, he even helped organise and flew in a circumnavigation of Australia to raise funds for the eradication of polio.

In addition to his engineering and community work, Warren was deeply engaged in various hobbies. He was an avid walker. As a leader of a local walking group Warren  organised walks and distributed detailed brochures of Group programs for fellow members . His extensive knowledge of walking tracks around the Hunter Region and Sydney earned him widespread respect among fellow walkers.

He was also involved in the Lake Macquarie Family History Group, Warren Oliver joined Group on 18 November 2000 and became a keen and valued member of the group. Warren took on the role of Hon Secretary in 2004, a role he held until 2023.

While fulfilling the demanding role of Secretary, Warren has also helped in other areas of organisation such as Group Outings, setting up and helping with the Group’s table display at historical society seminar days and group functions. He conscientiously communicated with members sending notices and forwarding eJournals from other societies. He regularly attended general meetings and research days helping many members and visitors with the difficult task of understanding their Irish Heritage.

Warren has assisted with researching, transcribing, entering and proof-reading data for our publications, including, Pioneers and Settlers of Lake Macquarie, St Matthews Church of England Windsor Parish Registers (4 volumes), Whitebridge and Belmont Cemeteries, and R.M. Evans and Sons Funeral Directors.

His dedication to local history and genealogy was recognized with a prestigious Certificate of Achievement from the Royal Australian Historical Society in 2021. Warren was also the recipient of a Community Award in 2022.

Warren and Louise shared a love of travel, both within Australia and internationally, exploring new places together throughout their retirement. Louise passed away in 2016, but Warren continued to live in their home at Bolton Point, maintaining close ties to his community and family. The couple had two children, a daughter and a son, and four grandchildren, all of whom were a source of pride and joy in Warren's life.

A man of quiet leadership, Warren preferred to serve rather than lead from the front. He was a problem solver, dedicated to his community, family, and the pursuit of knowledge. His love for reading and learning never waned, and his contributions to his local family history group, Rotary, philatelic society, and other organizations were invaluable.

Warren passed away in hospital on September 9, 2024, just a few months after celebrating his 87th birthday. He leaves behind a legacy of service, friendship, family, and community that will be cherished by all who knew him.

At his funeral service, held on September 23, 2024 at the Toronto Uniting Church, the large congregation and tributes from family members and local groups were a testament to the impact Warren had on his community. It was a celebration of a life lived in the spirit of service above self.

Vale Elspeth

 

Elspeth was an active member of the Group for 22 years who served in many executive roles and on the committee.

Sad end for Henry Humble

 Newspaper articles on Trove reported on the death of Henry Humble of Charlestown in 1952.

1952 'BURNS FATAL', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 21 August, p. 2. , viewed 01 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133185149

1952 'Family Notices', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 21 August, p. 2. , viewed 01 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133185154

Trove Tuesday - Steelworks accident

 Thomas Thoroughgood of Croudace Bay was one of a number of Lake Macquarie residents who suffered a workplace accident. 

1944 'MAN KILLED AT STEEL WORKS', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 2 March, p. 2. , viewed 15 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167583292

1944 'STEEL WORKER'S DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 29 March, p. 2. , viewed 15 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167611583

1944 'Family Notices', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 2 March, p. 2. , viewed 15 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167583183

1945 'Family Notices', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 3 March, p. 2. , viewed 15 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135011433

Trove Tuesday - Croke Wyee

 Oftentimes a simple Trove search that combines a family name with a place name will reward the searcher with details of other family members.

A search for Croke Wyee and limited to Newspapers in New South Wales returned these results from a range of newspapers.

1933 'BATHS AND FARES', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 20 October, p. 4. , viewed 01 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136698557

1939 'Cosy Corner Chats', Catholic Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1932 - 1942), 30 March, p. 17. , viewed 01 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146382519

1939 'OBITUARY.', Catholic Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1932 - 1942), 2 March, p. 41. , viewed 01 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146385231

1951 'Family Notices', Catholic Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1942 - 1954), 2 August, p. 10. (Magazine Section), viewed 01 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146744854

1951 'OBITUARY', Crookwell Gazette (NSW : 1885 - 1954), 8 August, p. 8. , viewed 01 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221291164

Trove Tuesday - Obits tell family stories

Some obituaries published in local newspapers are veritable gold mines of genealogical information. The following articles snipped from Trove tell of the lives and families of former Speers Point residents.

1922 'SPEERS' POINT.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 3 January, p. 5. , viewed 20 Jul 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140995143

"SPEERS' POINT" Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) 15 May 1926: 3. Web. 20 Jul 2021 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138164614>.

1920 'SPEERS' POINT.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 27 May, p. 7. , viewed 20 Jul 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138821307

1921 'SPEERS' POINT.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 13 July, p. 8. , viewed 20 Jul 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141071880

1922 'SPEERS' POINT.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 3 January, p. 5. , viewed 20 Jul 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140995143

Trove Tuesday - At the Beach

Redhead is a popular surfing beach in the Lake Macquarie City area. Trove reports on many incidents and activities at the beach. Following is a small selection. (If you have difficulty reading an article you can follow the link in its reference to access the article on the Trove site).

1923 'FELL OVERBOARD, AND SWAM FOR LIFE.', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 18 January, p. 1. , viewed 11 May 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163197057

1927 'REDHEAD BEACH CARNIVAL.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 19 February, p. 6. , viewed 11 May 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137656715

1928 'ANOTHER RESCUE', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 19 November, p. 8. , viewed 11 May 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163970260

1930 'SECOND TRAGEDY.', Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954), 2 September, p. 6. , viewed 11 May 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60782823

1931 'PERFECT TAKE-OFF', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 26 January, p. 4. , viewed 11 May 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164322149

1948 'Shipwrecked 5 Times', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 11 March, p. 2. , viewed 11 May 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134338903

1950 'Shark Sighted Off Redhead Beach', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 13 November, p. 3. , viewed 11 May 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134383115

Trove Tuesday - Natives of Scotland

November 30th, St Andrew's Day, is Scotland's National Day. Many early arrivals in  the Lake Macquarie District had roots in Scotland. 

The following eleven persons from our area were recorded in the newspapers on Trove as being a "Native of Scotland. If these images are difficult to read you can access the articles from the links that follow each clipping.

These articles contain many gems of information for descendants and family historians.

Mrs Grace Bower of Toronto

1908 'TORONTO.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 28 November, p. 2. , viewed 01 Dec 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135608496

Trove Tuesday - David Watkin Humphreys

An article in the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) on the 5th October 1915 tells us that "Private David Humphreys was tendered a public farewell on Tuesday evening prior to his leaving for the front."

The article can be read in full here: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137974373

Two years later another newspaper reports that Humphreys had been wounded.

1917 'AUSTRALIAN HEROES AND AN ARTIST'S SKETCHES.', Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), 14 February, p. 17. , viewed 18 Aug 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160387735

Shortly after he was wounded Humphreys and his mate, G W Stone,  wrote a letter home.

1917 'SOLDIERS' LETTERS.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 31 January, p. 5. , viewed 09 Oct 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133752140

Humphreys who married an English lass, Jessie, returned home and was working as a miner until his tragic death in 1938.

1938 'LONG SEARCH', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 25 June, p. 13. , viewed 09 Oct 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133613477

David Watkins was laid to rest in Belmont Cemetery. 

Trove Tuesday - Robert Samuel Kells

Trove is a wonderful source of genealogical information. The following few articles provide many facts from the life story of Robert Kells.

 Robert Samuel Kells' demise was announced in two short articles in a local newspaper on the same day in 1931.

1931 'MAN DROPS DEAD', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 17 June, p. 7. , viewed 18 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139624159

1931 'TO-DAY'S NEWS', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 17 June, p. 1. , viewed 18 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139623917

Several days later, after his funeral, a more lengthy obituary appeared in the same newspaper.

1931 'OBITUARY', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 22 June, p. 2. , viewed 18 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139636383

Further articles in the Trove Newspaper Collection give us more insights into Robert's life in the Lake Macquarie area..