Solo by Miss B. Peters, the Killarney church, organist. 20th November

I have fond memories of Killarney from my childhood.  It was a lush environment and a great climate, the place always smelled lovely.  Everyone grew beautiful roses and the black soil was almost edible it was that rich.

My grandparents Markus and Matilda Peters (nee Butler) lived there together from the time of their marriage.  My Grandfather owned the grocery shop in the main street and later on in my childhood John Carter managed the store.  John Carter was Queenie Carter (nee Butler) son, Queenie and my grandmother (Matilda) were sisters. I am presently researching my family history and I was very interested to read this very interesting piece in the newspaper concerning the organist - Miss B Peters. Given this is in 1926 - then I have some idea on finding her on genealogy sites etc. She is a miss here and so this means she is the daughter of a Peters, and not her married name.  Enjoy the article for a walk down memory lane.

Excerpt from The Warwick Daily News
26th November 1926

KILLARNEY
(From our Correspondent.)

On Tuesday evening the Killarney Presbyterian Choir of 17 voices under the baton of Mr. John McArthur jour neyed to Acacia Greek, to render a programe in. the picturesquely situat ed district church building, which had just recently being thoroughly renovated and the objective of the
entertainment was to defray in part the 'financial obligations incurred. About seven p.m. the party left Killarney comfortably ensconced in Mr. Roy Clarey's motor conveyance which had been gratuitously placed at their disposal.

A good attendance of local residents comfortably filled the building. Mr. John Inglis in the capacity of chairman contributed to the evening's pleasure by his capable conduct of the program. This opened up with an organ, solo by Miss B. Peters, the Killarney church, organist, followed by a Male Quartette consisting of Rev. M McDermant, J, Spreadborough, Loose more and J. McArthur; quartette, Miss Backhouse, Miss Grace Bond, Messrs. J. Arthur, J. Spreadborough; quartette, Mrs. C. White, Miss Grace Bond. Messrs Spreadborough and McArthur;   duet, Messer F. Fielding, and J. Spread borough; elocutionary item; Mrs. Mc Dermant, "The fashionable "choir'

vocal solos, Mrs. C. White, Mr. Loose more and Rev. M McDermant.

During the evening the choir render ed a number of items in it manner suggestive of careful training and re fleeting credit upon their conductor. Mr. H. F. Wride also contributed with a monologue series.

At the close of the evening - Mr. Inglis, supported by Mr. W. Jones, thanked the visitors, and extended an invitation to all to partake of refreshment prepared by the lady adherents and served upon, the lawn, The Rev. M McDermant 'thanked the ladies for their courtesy in providing the much enjoyed tea and dainties. The singing of "For they are jolly good fellows" brought a thoroughly enjoy able evening to a close. "

... On the return journey the choir dispensed harmony en route.

See more old photographs here Eminpee Fotography 

Happy Birthday to my Mum and Dad

 Fancy having a mother and father who are born on the same day and you don't get to know either of them real well.  I can attest to the fact that it is weird.   The entire disconnection thing playing out continually all around me including my own children who seem to not be concerned with their behaviour around me.

My mother and Father ( Bill and Ellen Peters nee Baguley) at the Killarney Show

 Leaving the care of both of parents at around four months of age, it is to be expected that I won't know that much about them.

Mary-Ellen who was known as Cindy!  (Me)

 I was reared by older extended family and was largely kept out of the way and out of the picture and it was really foreign having so many brothers and sisters but not really having them.   Being unable to talk about my "real" family when I was in Edith's care was a very confusing way of life.  It was thwart with emotional  and physical abuse.  This continued for the 12 years I was under her care.  This treatment made it difficult for me to understand why I was even on the planet, I could not understand as a child why I was even born. 

That was a question I asked many times during my lifetime, usually when I get to that point and I ask out loud to the universe the whole situation seems to lighten and change and move around. 

So this is how it is in my life.   I must be mindful of my loud ways and continue on.   My quest for the planet has never changed since my teen age years.  This is the time when I was kept in the care of the government as a ward of the state of Queensland.   I was placed in children's homes.  Seven children's homes in fact and that meant seven high schools too. 

What hope did I really have of completing the full education?   I would have loved to have done this though and today I still love to study.

It is my parents birthday!   I am led to ponder what it might have been.  What it would have been like to grow up in a real family situation.  What would it have been like to have had all my brothers and sisters around me.  What would it have been like having a father who wasn't rendered permanently disabled by paraplegia.  What would it have been like if my mum did not leaving us all behind?  

It was not her fault she had to leave us.  There was no real way to feed six tiny children and cloth them.  Things were very different back in the 1950's and 1960's.  

Later on, in the Nineteen sixty's we certainly saw a complete about face with government policy.  But, sadly it was already too late for our family.
 
Images @ Eminpee Fotography