My Portfolio

Annette and Gerry returned to Adelaide by Goods Train, where she met Gerry's parents for the first time.  They were Polish/Russian immigrants and welcomed her into the family.  Her sister and husband helped to dress her for the wedding, which was held at Gerry's parents home.  After the ceremony Gerry's mother...

I am an expert crocheter, thanks to my grandma’s teaching, yet an equally-inept knitter and seamstress, despite my grandma’s teaching.  From a very young age, my grandma was a gifted seamstress, knitter, and crocheter.  (Her dad had been a tailor.  She figured she must have “inherited” her talent from him.)  When...

It is a chilly summer evening in San Francisco, California. It is the evening of my husband's birthday. We had just returned from dinner and are sitting on our back porch, talking. "Do you think your birth mother is thinking about you today?" My husband, Paul, was adopted, back in Pittsburgh,...

Judith moved to Darwin from Adelaide to live with her parents and younger siblings in 1970.  She soon was gathered in by workmates and friends and started socialising with the young people of Darwin.  Food was all trucked in to Darwin at that time, and there were not many places to...

Judith was asked by her parents to return to Brisbane from Canberra just before her 21st birthday.  She celebrated her 21st birthday with family and friends.  Her mother arranged the catering and made the birthday cake.  On her return to Brisbane, Judith worked in the Department of Air and flatted in...

One of the gloomy realities that came with my retirement was the economic necessity to give up my beloved little red airplane. Most people knew her (Like ships, all airplanes are of the feminine persuasion) as an AA1A Grumman Trainer - Not me. Once I got to know her and understood...

Ruth tells us an interesting story of her mother's advice on the best place to meet a nice christian boy.  She then goes on to give us a somewhat amusing account of her first date and her first love.    

How far in the past does an event have to have occurred before it can be called “history?” I have no idea. But as for a man’s personal life and times it seems reasonable to say that the day he becomes an octogenarian he can be forgiven if he looks back...

For our 25 year wedding anniversary, I surprised Byron with a trip to Asheville, NC for a two night stay at the Biltmore House. Our anniversary is December 31st. When we arrived, we were treated like royality. We decided we wanted something to eat but not a full meal so we...

On my 16th birthday my beloved grandmother gave me a ring.  It was a simple, and in todays standards, very inexpensive ring but to me it was worth EVERYTHING.  It was round with dainty scallops around the edges and my initials engraved in the center.  I slipped it on my finger...

[While I was serving my mission in The Netherlands, I received a letter dated 17 Dec 1964 from my grandfather's niece (my cousin, Ardes Adams) which read: ". . . We expect a big day on your grandpa's birthday. . . .  Your mother and I wrote a ditty about him...

Margaret tells us what the fashions were like after WWII, when she wore cotton and then crimplene dresses, nylon stockings and spent 15 guinneas on a beautiful dress to wear to a dinner dance. She made most of her own clothes and the clothes for her young children.  Complete layettes were...

Joyce tells us about her years as a teenager working in her first job, living at home and contributing to the development of the new family home at Rostrevor South Australia  

Every day in my practice as a counselor, I see how our lives are defined by relationships with others. Relationships shape, sustain and strengthen us.  They give our lives meaning—our very identities. And relationships are still, as they always have been, enhanced by sharing our personal experiences and stories. Several years...

Jill  talks about the many interests she has enjoyed over her life.  First and foremost are her husband, four children and grandchildren, Other interests include, reading, jigsaw puzzles and her travels to Hong Kong, China, USA and Thailand and other interesting places.   Jill also tells us about the significant work...

Jill talks about playing board games as a child, her favourite books and outdoor activities and her friend, Maria.     

Jill talks about her carefree childhood growing up in Clare South Australia.  She tells us how she played dolls and dress up with her friends and describes a variety of other childhood games.

Bill talks about playing card games and table tennis during his school years.  And tells us how sailing became one of his loves.

Bill Corey remembers his mother when growing up in Tarlee, SOuth AUstralia. In this photo Bill is being held by his mother so this photo will date from late 1917 to early 1918.

Hermannus Thiessens aka Herman Thiessens was born December 12, 1876, the third son of Antoon Thiessens and Willemke de Jong in Groningen city, Groningen province, The Netherlands.  He was, by profession, a furniture maker. He married (1) Hendrikje (Reka) Mulder on November 1, 1900 in Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands who was the...