Thursday 5th November - a MAJOR milestone

In the autumn 0f 1919, my Great Uncle Jim and Great Aunt Eliza left Ireland ( not Northern Ireland) to set out for New Zealand to start a new life there. Jim had served in the Great War the Inniskilling Fusileers and had been invalided out of the Army. Eliza had nursed him back to health.

Their daughter Essie was born on the ship in the Red Sea on its way to New Zealand on 3rd November 1919.

Essie celebrates her 90th birthday this week. The family are having a party at Moyola Station near Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty all day Saturday. Four generations of the clan are gathering from all over Australasia for the event.

We are travelling up on Saturday morning to Moyola to take part in the celebrations. I am looking forward to meeting people I have not seen for 25 years.

Happy Birthday Essie!