As family reunions go this one was pretty special. A number of us gathered to say "G'day and welcome to the mob" at a winery in St Arnaud today. Mark, his beautiful wife Rivka, his two sons and one of his son's partners were the guests of honor. I am sure his daughter, at home on the other side of the world, had a lump in her throat too.
This is Mark, with his mother's cousin Lois. (My aunt, my father's sister). We have compared photos and Lois looked like Mark's mum, Patricia, when she was younger.
Can you see the family resemblance? Look at those eyes.
Mark was presented with a plaque, to be placed on his mother's grave in Perth. I am sure Patricia was looking down on it all today, and we think her mother was too.
Family connections were made, stories told and photographs and snippets of information shared. My sister Lynne is in the centre of this photograph -she is our family tree expert and her second name is "Patricia".
Mark and Jean - she was "the holder of the secret" and the key to this happy ending. Once the story was unravelled she decide to hop on a plane and head to Israel to meet Mark and his family. She is 80 years young, enjoyed her trip and organised the day today. I am sure Dorethea and her family in Heaven are grateful.
And this is Estelle and Mark. Without her tenacity and expertise this story would never have been told, Mark would still be wondering.....
and our family would be poorer for not knowing.
