Imagine knowing hundreds of years of your family history – no royal ties, just rich stories preserved for generations.
For Wilma, delving into her family’s past is a passion project that’s taken 20 years of research and filled nearly as many books.
Scrapbooks, that is. Because this crafty octogenarian knows her audience.
She worried her sizeable collection of family photos and documents might end up in the recycling bin when she died. Her solution? Turning them into books to hand down to her sons.
“People read headlines and names under pictures but if you go into too much detail they don’t have time,” she explains.
So her books are full of pictures – and enough text in places – to bring her ancestors back to life.
And it’s a strategy that’s worked: her sons are now interested in the history that shaped their family.
Uncovering the past
Wilma’s research has led her through census data, newspapers and even a few inquests to build a detailed family tree. But it was her mum’s good memory for names and the help of an English genealogist that helped Wilma trace the family back to the 17th century, and one member back to the 1500s! (For history buffs, that’s when Michelangelo’s David was created, witchcraft trials gripped Europe, and Henry VIII – he of many wives and a few beheadings – ruled England).
There’s no royalty to be found in her family. Or convicts, for that matter. “Not one!” she says with mock disappointment. But newspapers and reports were a goldmine of information – literally.
She discovered two great grandfathers killed in 1800s mining accidents in Bendigo and in Walhalla’s Long Tunnel gold mine. She credits the “fabulously written” inquest reports for uncovering that history. Her grandfather was just four when the accidents happened but went on to become a miner himself. Census records helped Wilma track him and his mother to add more layers to their story.
Archived issues of the Hobart Courier (now The Mercury) revealed brushes with the law. Relatives who arrived in Hobart by ship and moved on to Melbourne made news for their part in the infamous 1846 Orange riot. Despite bringing their guns and ammunition to the Catholic and Protestant clash, the father and son escaped charges because they weren’t seen to fire a shot.
More than a legacy
While her books are a legacy for future generations, they’ve been a joy to make — from recognising her sons’ features in old photos to uncovering how her ancestors lived, dressed and worked.
It delights Wilma, who says “It’s important to see where we come from, because we all come from somewhere overseas. And it’s important not to let people fade away.”
That’s why one of her books is devoted to an unmarried uncle – so his life is remembered, too.
Wilma’s now produced 18 books of family history. Her top tip? Write people’s names on the backs of photos, so future generations know who they are.
A pastime for the present
Wilma’s scrapbooking isn’t only about the distant past. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, she found time to make real progress on her books. She admits she’s never been “a sit-down person” but creating them keeps her busy and positive.
“Got to keep the brain moving! We all need to keep thinking,” she says. “It’s a great hobby for older people. And it’s simple to do. If you don’t drive or can’t get out, anyone can do this. Otherwise you’re watching TV.
“We all have time. It’s all a matter of your own imagination and what you can do.”
Wilma’s been with Care Connect for three years, supported through a Commonwealth Support at Home Package while she waits for her new Support at Home program.
She didn’t think she was artistic until she read Ron’s story in our newsletter. It got her thinking differently about her hobby – and inspired her to share it with our Care Connect community.
Wilma’s journey may stretch back centuries, but what matters most are the people beside her now — her beloved sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.
“Life’s good,” she says. “Every day’s a bonus if you can get out of bed. I believe that a smile and a kind word cost you nothing.”
Have you got a story to share about something that’s brought you joy or connection? We’d love to hear it. Get in touch marketing@careconnect.org.au