Waterfall General (Garrawarra) Cemetery

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• Share Our Family - Two brother William Hunter & John Mitchell CHRISTIE on Facebook Share Our Family - Two brother William Hunter & John Mitchell CHRISTIE on Twitter Share Our Family - Two brother William Hunter & John Mitchell CHRISTIE on Linkedin Email Our Family - Two brother William Hunter & John Mitchell CHRISTIE link

  Our Family - Two brother William Hunter & John Mitchell CHRISTIE

  by Christine Christie, over 12 years ago

  My name is Christine ChristieMy Fathers two brothers are burried at Garrawarra Cemetery.My granparents and their children four boys and a daughter imigrated from Wick Scotland in 1927 and settled in Granville NSW.Their third child John Mitchell Christie who was born on 13 May 1916 in Wick Scotland was in the Waterfall Sanatourim with Tuberculosis and died on the 20 November 1936 aged 20 years. He was burried in the Presbterian section at Waterfall.Their eldest child William Hunter Christie who was born on the 2 January 1912 in Wick Scotland was in Randwick Auxiliary Hospital also with Tuberculosis and died... Continue reading

  My name is Christine ChristieMy Fathers two brothers are burried at Garrawarra Cemetery.My granparents and their children four boys and a daughter imigrated from Wick Scotland in 1927 and settled in Granville NSW.Their third child John Mitchell Christie who was born on 13 May 1916 in Wick Scotland was in the Waterfall Sanatourim with Tuberculosis and died on the 20 November 1936 aged 20 years. He was burried in the Presbterian section at Waterfall.Their eldest child William Hunter Christie who was born on the 2 January 1912 in Wick Scotland was in Randwick Auxiliary Hospital also with Tuberculosis and died on 25 April 1938 aged 25 years. He was cremated at Rookwood Cemetary Lidcombe and his ashes were then put in the grave with his brother at Waterfall.William was a studend at Granville Technical school for plumbers but was struck down with illness and for two years was an invalid his doctor said he would never leave his room again. He studied Accountancy via correspondence and was placed first on the list for New South Wales in the examination. A remarkable achievement for a self taught student with illness.

  He earned a diploma in Hemingway & Robertson mercantile bookkeeping.He also was a prominent debater of the Y.M.C.A. and a leader of the fellowship of Youth.The Sydney Morning Herald ran an article on 9/7/1932 titled The Inspiration of Courage What determination competently directed will achieve.. Success in spite of Illness.I have been to the cemetary and was disappointed that it had been so neglected.I also noticed on the list that you have on the graves you did not have any information on William Hunter (Bill) which I have now given you.I would hope that something could be done to the cemetary to remember the people who lost their lives there that they are not forgotten.I appreciate that you are looking into this.Thanking you.Christine Christie.
• Share My Grandfather - Thomas John James KENNEDY on Facebook Share My Grandfather - Thomas John James KENNEDY on Twitter Share My Grandfather - Thomas John James KENNEDY on Linkedin Email My Grandfather - Thomas John James KENNEDY link

  My Grandfather - Thomas John James KENNEDY

  by Sue Gorst, over 12 years ago

  With the publication of the article in the SMH on 3 November 2012 about the Waterfall Cemetery a missing page in our family history began to unfurl.

  I wrote my first ever Letter to the Editor to share a little of our family history. The letter was published and the last ten (10) months have proven to be an exciting and emotional ride.

  My mother's father, Thomas John James Kennedy was born on 28 September 1898 at Pambula on the NSW South Coast. He married my grandmother, Lydia Best on 27 July 1921 in Sydney. My aunt, Roma, was born... Continue reading

  With the publication of the article in the SMH on 3 November 2012 about the Waterfall Cemetery a missing page in our family history began to unfurl.

  I wrote my first ever Letter to the Editor to share a little of our family history. The letter was published and the last ten (10) months have proven to be an exciting and emotional ride.

  My mother's father, Thomas John James Kennedy was born on 28 September 1898 at Pambula on the NSW South Coast. He married my grandmother, Lydia Best on 27 July 1921 in Sydney. My aunt, Roma, was born on 8 February 1922 and my mother , Dell, was born at Parkes on 15 May 1923. Her father died at the Waterfall Sanatorium on 15 September 1923. My mother was not listed on his death certificate and my aunt was listed as one (1) year old. The death certificate listed his place of burial as Sanatorium Cemetery, Waterfall on 16 September 1923.

  On his death certificate it lists him as being late of Pambula, on the Hospital Admission Register (more of that later) it says his address is Clarinda Street Parkes but in my mother's memories she writes:

  "I came from Parkes. My father died when I was five months old. He was working on the railway in Goulburn. Then, Mum and my sister and I went home to Parkes to my maternal grandparents." (1998).

  This was the only information we had. My aunt is still alive (aged 91yrs) and my mum died on 1 March 2012. Their mother also died of tuberculosis in Queanbeyan Hospital on 21 January 1936 (aged 35yrs). Mum and Aunty Roma often said that they never expected to make old bones as their parents had died so young!

  About twenty (20) years ago mum applied for copies of her parent's birth and death certificates. After visiting her childhood home in Parkes (they moved to Queanbeyan in 1934) she and my sister tried to find the Sanatorium Cemetery, Waterfall but of course were unsuccessful.

  After the publication of my letter the reporter at the SMH sent me links to Wollongong City Council and the photo archives at the State Library and the Powerhouse Museum. I was surprised at just how emotional this information made us and can now understand people's reactions on Who Do You Think You Are? as they uncover unknown family history.

  Things have really started now to take on a life of their own. Most unexpectedly I learnt that my best friend's niece currently works at the Garrawarra Centre. She organised for us to visit the Centre and we were able to see the general direction of the Cemetery and to wander around and look at all the original Sanatorium buildings. My aunt has been so excited with what we have found to date and we are so sad that mum is not here to share our finds as it was her who was the prime mover in trying to track down information.

  The really exciting break through was a visit to the State Archives in Kingswood. I now know he was admitted to Waterfall on 8 March 1923 (hence mum was listed on his admission papers). This of course prompts so many more questions. How did he get to Waterfall? Was it from Goulburn or Parkes? Did the family ever visit? Did he know that mum was born? Who paid the 4 pound burial fee? I have contacted the Research Officer at Parkes Library to start a search of the newspaper records.

  Thank you to Wollongong Council for the professional and sensitive manner this has all been handled.

  The biggest thing for me though over the past ten (10) months is that I no longer think of him, or refer to him as my mother's father - but now as my grandfather. It is a wonderful feeling.