Update on the reunion
It was 10.30am; my parents, brother and niece, my aunt and her partner and I were all sitting in the hall; waiting, waiting, waiting. Was anyone going to come to the reunion?
Do we have enough signs up directing people to the hall? (that’s mum)
The charts were all laid out on the table; the convict history and records were on the wall; the marriage certificates were there for everyone to see. But where was everyone?
I had been posted as lookout - hadn’t that car been around a couple of times? Maybe it was a relative I didn’t know. Wave the arms frantically - yes, yes, yes. They’re coming over to me.
You must be Sue, they said.
Finally our first load of relatives had arrived. Within 15 minutes of the first carload, we had about 60 people in the hall. First cousins, second cousins, relatives by marriage - everyone had signed in at the door, were looking at the records, adding new bits to the charts or collaring myself at the computer to input the data directly into the genealogy software.
We had an enjoyable 4 hours meeting relatives some who had flown over from the mainland just for the reunion - but planned to stay longer and do some touring as well. As people left with smiles and thanks, they ordered updates on the family tree printed as descendant indented charts - so now my work begins again, adding all the new data to the database and waiting for others to send me more information by snail mail or email.
Do it again? Certainly would.
