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Western Port
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Journalists: Stephen Taylor, Brodie Cowburn 5974 9000 Photographers: Gary Sissons, Yanni Advertising Sales: Martyn Ashton 0481 289 154 Real Estate Account Manager: Jason Richardson 0421 190 318 Production/Graphic design: Marcus Pettifer, Danielle Espagne Group Editor: Keith Platt 0439 394 707 Publisher: Cameron McCullough REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Peter McCullough, Stuart McCullough, Andrew Hurst, Craig MacKenzie. ADDRESS: Mornington Peninsula News Group PO Box 588 Hastings 3915 Email: team@mpnews.com.au Web: www.mpnews.com.au DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: 1PM ON THURS 14 FEBRUARY 2019 NEXT ISSUE PUBLICATION DATE: WED 20 FEBRUARY 2019
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The Thompsons have
FAMILIES descended from the original French Island Thompsons flocked to the Tankerton Memorial Hall for a 125th reunion. More than 230 family members from New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Victoria took the ferry across from Stony Point and were picked up by bus on the island, Sunday 3 February. Some came across from Corinella, with their vehicle on the barge, and planned to stay several days to catch up with family members from further afield. The day capped off 18 months of planning by organisers Joan Shepherd, Lois Airs, and Carol Lake – grandchildren of Joseph Edmund (Ed) and Margaret (Maggie) Annie Thompson (nee Broderick). They had lots to talk about: 125 years ago, Joseph Henry Thompson came to French Island with his son Joseph to make a new life for his family. He had arrived at the port of Adelaide in 1860 at the age of 13 accompanied by his brother and sister-in-law, Cephas and Mary Ann Thompson, and their three-year-old son George. Thompson worked for a time at Islington railway works in South Australia, later moving to Melbourne with his own family of Ellen Elizabeth Keyte (nee Wilton) and their children. In 1893 he took up a government offer of land on French Island, cleared the scrub, built a home and tried to provide for his family in what was an inhospitable environment. In 1894, his wife Ellen and their
children Martha and Richard Wilton, Cephas, Mary Selina, Walter, Eliza Anne, Ellen Elizabeth and William Thompson, arrived to begin their new lives. Direct decedents who still live on French Island include Rose Scott, 87, the youngest daughter of Joseph Edmund and Maggie Thompson. Another of the couple’s children, Cyril Thompson, 90, made the trip over on the barge with help from his daughter.
“So many smiles, handshakes, cuddles, tears and stories were told and shared throughout the day,” Ms Lake said. “Running all day on a loop was a video of the centenary reunion held 25 years ago and on display was a huge collection of photos shared by Noel Thompson, Lois Aires, Carol Lake, Dianne Spark and Rose Scott all put together by Ollie Hodgkins.” Family members took a bus trip to
ULYSSES CLUB INC. 2019 NATIONAL RALLY 25th February – 3rd March 2019
Public Open Day
TAC Grand Parade
THURSDAY 28TH FEBRUARY
SATURDAY 2ND MARCH
10AM - 9PM
9AM - 10AM
There will be entertainment, food trucks and trade stalls for the public to enjoy. Cost : Adults – $15 Children 5-16 years – $5 Children under 5 years – free Family (2 adults & 2 children) – $35 Venue: Mornington Racecourse
Enthusiasts can watch as members of Ulysses Club Inc. ride in a parade around the streets of Mornington beginning at The Peninsula Community Theatre car park and finishing at Mornington Park.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST WELCOME Ulysses Club is calling for expressions of interest for stallholders for their Public Open Day event on February 28th. Phone: 0429 962 419 for more details. PAGE 8
Western Port News
13 February 2019
Ulysses Club Inc. is social club for motorcyclists over the age of 40.