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I was born Cheryl Jean FORREST, in 1954, at
Bairnsdale, Victoria, the second child of Keith and Melva (nee BENNETT)
FORREST. I have an older brother Geoffrey, born 1953, brother Kevin, born
1962, and lastly Jennifer born 1963.
Both of my parents came from farming
backgrounds, and both were born at Sister Bull's nursing home in Bairnsdale.
My grandfather, Thomas Henry FORREST, was one of the first soldier settlers
in Bairnsdale, having been one of the instigators of the scheme in that
area. They had a dairy farm at Johnsonville. My other grandparents, the
BENNETT'S had small crops, a dairy farm and a turkey farm. Grandfather
Bernard BENNETT was a sleeper cutter on the Bairnsdale to Orbost railway
line. During World War 2 soldiers were housed in tents on their property.
My parents, Keith and Melva, were married in 1951, in the
Salvation Army Manse, which burnt down before their marriage certificate
could be lodged, with the result that when they went looking for their
marriage certificate they found that it didn't exist. Keith and Melva paid
£250 deposit on a one acre lot with a four room dwelling at
Lucknow a suburb east of Bairnsdale, across the
Mitchell River. My parents recently celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary with us in Gympie.
Lucknow had a small population then, where
everyone knew everyone. We children used to play in the old timber yard at
the mill, in a building that had been condemned, and it was a challenge to
most of the neighbourhood children. The old brick kiln was another favourite
site. If we were running late for school we would cut through the back
paddocks (owned by the local police man), across the football oval and out
to the highway. This lessened the distance by approximately one third. We
used this track when necessary as most of us were not than keen on school.
I went to Lucknow primary school, from prep
to year six, then onto Junior high school in Bairnsdale for
forms one and two, at the old high school. I completed years three and four
at the new senior high school. When I left school I became a "check-out
chick" at Coles and Woollies.
Barry and I were married at Swift's Creek,
and have three children, two girls and a boy. We worked on farming
properties in Victoria when the economy was in better shape, and Barry
worked his way up to manager. We lived at Yea for five years, then moved to
Queensland in 1990, and to Gympie in January 2000, as my health needed a
warmer climate. In the past I have dabbled in craft, played tennis,
gardened, fished etc.
I began researching in 1979, when idly
looking in a newsagents I came across a book for recording family history.
It was reduced from $25 to $5, I couldn't resist a bargain. It became a
challenge to find this history and see how far back I could get information
on my ancestors. The real challenge is to bring the people alive, and make
them interesting, not just sterile names.
On my father's side I have Scottish and
English (Cornwall) roots. My mother's side is more widely spread, having
Prussian, Welsh, Irish, and English (Birmingham and Cornwall) ancestors.
My research is being undertaken for my
children, Tracey, Steven and Wanda, as well as my granddaughter Aimee
Louise, and her little brother or sister expected in March. May they
continue an interest in our family's ancestors.
Cheryl LOWE
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