AUSTRALIA DAY 26 JANUARY 2013
 

The North/West Chapter tried to keep the motto of the First Fleet Chapters
alive by staging the re-enactment of the landing in Port Jackson 225 years ago
in the hearts and minds of the local people of the Liverpool Plains.
Six members of the chapter dressed in costume and with the help of a local
man by the name Bob McGilchrist ( second fleet descendant) set the scene by
rowing his flat bottomed tinny in a deep pool in the Wallabadah Creek along
with our President Graham Tydd, ( Ann Forbes) dressed as Captain Phillip.
Colin Worrad ( friend) dressed as Phillip Gidley King, to the banks of the
Creek, where convicts Harold McLean, ( Margaret Dowling and Owen
Cavanough) Morrie Millar, ( associate member of John Nicholls descendant)
helped the two Captains out of the boat. Watching over proceedings was
Marine, Ron Ayton, ( Matthew Eveningham) with his gun at the ready, assisting
him was drummer Graham Harband (associate member of Ann Martin descendant).
Beating the drum the party marched up the bank where the flag lay ready on
the ground attached to a sapling, ready to be placed in a tree stump ready for
the occasion. All the while our secretary Jo Crossing, (Gidley King ) was
telling the story of the history of the landing.
The toast was issued to King, Queen, Prince of Wales and the Colony by
Captain Phillip. Three shots were heard from the party by the flag, answered by
three from the tinny. ( all by busting balloons)
Children from the local school added to the occasion by reading out histories
from First Fleet Descendants who have come to live in the Wallabadah area.
We were honoured to have the Mayor of Liverpool Plains Ian Lobsey and the Australia Day Ambassador Tracey Spicer with us.

For an example of this was John Cross’s descendant Ray Collins whose vision
for the First Fleet Gardens has became reality in this wonderful tribute we can
all enjoy by the banks of the Wallahadah Creek.

Publicity Officer Patricia Worrad.