Last weekend was the first weekend in March. For several years now the ‘cousins’ connected to my mother’s paternal family of Baxter, have gathered at Murwillumbah for their annual reunion.
Last year’s blog about this special day is here.
Although it was an unseasonably hot day, and many could not come due to ill health and work commitments, it was still a very successful day. There were close to 40 attendees present, spread over four generations. The oldest aged 97 years, and the youngest, 2 years. The 97 year old lady has attended all our gatherings, and so has the 2 year old, although on different branches of the family.
We were also treated to a lovely impromptu recital on the mouth-organ from a well-loved aunt, who delighted us all with some of the most popular World War II songs of her youth. Some of us (with her family’s permission) videoed her playing. It will be great for the family archives, especially when she is no longer with us.
We know that the homeward journey is always quiet as we talk and laugh so much, we have not only ‘lost our voices’, we all have plenty to think about, having caught up on all the family news.
The ancestral couple featured this year was “Thomas and Harriet Mary Baxter (nee Mather).
Thomas Baxter was a sixteen-year-old convict who arrived in Sydney in 1834. Some of his story is told in former blogs- Convict Cousins in my Baxter Family, posted 11 November 2015, found here and Lost in the City of London-the Baxter Family, posted on 7 May 2012, found here.
Although our next gathering is nearly a whole year away on 3 March 2019, planning has already begun.
Nola Mackey - Family History 
Dear Nola, I am writing to you to tell you of Kevin’s passing away on 15/4/18. Kevin had terminal cancer multiple myloma, and had suffered a severe stroke, on 2/10/17 which rendered him severely disabled, and could not talk. Regards Gwen
Dear Gwen, Thank you so much for getting in touch. I am very sorry to hear of your sad news. May he now be at peace.
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