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An exquisite headstone carved by a consummate artist

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 As you know I love a beautifully sculptured headstone. Many in Rookwood stop me in my tracks and the one that I would never have seen, unless pointed out, is why I investigated the man who it pays tribute to. WILLIAM JAMES GOWANS William was born on the 16th of October 1890, the eldest son of William and Eliza (nee Elms). William (Senior) arrived in Australia from Scotland in 1884, Eliza was born in Collingwood Melbourne to parents formally from England. The couple had four children before marrying in 1896. This may have been due to Eliza having previously been married twice, firstly at the age of fifteen. It seems that both men deserted her and died in other States of Australia. None the less it seems that Eliza was lucky at the third attempt, and they went on to provide William with six siblings, most living long lives. William (Senior) was involved with the Sydney Scottish Borderers Association which aimed to promote interest in Scottish music, literature and sports. William (S...
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A victim of war as we remember the ending of WW2

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 I couldn't let the 80th anniversary of VP day which meant an end to WW2 go past without a blog! I was meaning to write this one up a few days back but well I wasn't feeling up to it but as today appears to be a good day here it is! Memories used to come flooding back to my mother about the 15th August 1945 when the girls and her dropped all the hats they were working on at Normoyle's in the CBD and raced into the packed Sydney streets for hours of merriment.  But although there was joy there was sadness for those that lost their lives in the wilds of Papua New Guinea - where my father fought the whole five years - and in other Asian areas including Singapore.  Today I wish to honour the following young man who lost his life in the Sandakan death camp. ROBERT CHARLES PURVIS Robert was the eldest son of Charles Allen Purvis and his wife Sylvania of Alexandria and was born in 1914 and we know he was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW Cam...
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A formidable woman we have a lot to be thankful for

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 Sometime ago wandering around Rookwood I came across a headstone that noted the person buried there was a recipient of the Order of Australia medal - I took a photo to research further. I've done a bit of that this week and came across someone many of us have never heard off. Here's what I found. FLORENCE AMY (FLO) CLUFF Florence - or Flo as she became known as - was born in November 1092 at Chillagoe Queensland, fifth of nine children to Frederick William Davis, a railway carpenter, and wife Florence Emma. Flo attended nearby schools as well as Cairns District High School from 1917 returning home as a pupil-teacher in 1919. After her father died in a a railway bridge accident in 1921, she left teaching to look after her mother and brothers but within months her mother also died. Unable to return to teaching, she married Robert Kershaw, a labourer, in November 1921. In 1931 she went to Brisbane, where she worked on hotels to support herself and her two younger brothers. The fo...
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A very early colony surgeon - largely forgotten

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 On a visit to Rookwood, some time ago now, a rather imposing old headstone caught my eye whilst I was looking for distant family members. There was quite a lengthy description on the headstone that usually means a person of importance. Here is what I found... ARTHUR SAVAGE (@1798-1852) Arthur's early life prior to coming to these shores is sketchy to say the least but it appears he was probably the elder of two sons born to Arthur Savage, a merchant, coffee planter and slave owner and Jane Bowie, of Kingston Jamaica. Arthur was however born in Ireland. Arthur gained the diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons in London and was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Royal Navy in March 1820. He was promoted to Surgeon, Royal Navy in July 1826. He was appointed to the "Winchester" in 1832. As Surgeon-Superintendent he went in the convict ships "John" to Hobart in 1833, "Norfolk" to Hobart in 1835 and "Captain Cook" to Sydney in 1836, as well ...
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A man of grit and integrity

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 I couldn't let this important day pass without rallying myself and at least writing the easiest of blogs for you. This blog (with some additions) was written and published back in 2016 in another area and this man, and his convictions still moves me today. ARTHUR RAE  Arthur was born in Christchurch New Zealand in March 1860, one of nine children to the English born, Charles and Anne (nee Beldam). Charles was a painter and glazier who was also Secretary of the Railway Employee's Association. He trained as a mechanic but later worked as a shearer and labourer joining the Amalgamated Shearers' Union of Australasia upon its formation in 1866. Arthur crossed the Tasman in 1889 and helped to found the first Labor Party in Sydney and went to prison during the Maritime Strike in 1890. He was said to have brought the Riverina shearers out in support of the strike but due to public demand he was released after one month. Arthur continued to push the "bush" unions thro...
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He sailed to make his fortune and he did!

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  A man who travelled to Australia to try his luck and who was lucky indeed! JAMES NORTON (ESQ) James was born in Hastings Sussex England on the 27 July 1795 the third son of John Norton and his wife Mary (nee Bradford). He received a legal education and was admitted to practice as an attorney and thus was known as Esquire. He sailed as Captain’s Clerk in the “Maria” that arrived in Sydney in September 1818 with the aim of making his fortune as a lawyer – at the time only four other solicitors were practicing in the town. His father, a brother and three sisters followed him to Sydney the following year and the family received a large grant of land in the Mulgoa district on the Nepean River. James also was granted a separate land title that he farmed. His youngest sister, Emma, married the explorer John Oxley in August 1822.   In the meantime, his legal practice flourished and in 1826 he created Australia’s first law firm when he took William Barker into partnership. Ja...
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