Immigration & the Great Depression

By the time they were ready to leave Scotland, brothers Donald and Jock had become young adults and as they prepared for their travels to Canada, the Matheson brothers talked them into changing their minds and follow them to Western Australia. After much persuasion, Donald and Jock finally agreed to emigrate, a decision that must...

Home Among the Gum Trees

This Australia Day, I set myself a challenge to write a brief overview of my ancestors who made us who we are today, fair dinkum true-blue Aussies. Some came of their own accord, paying for their passage, while others were sent here courtesy of the British Government and whom we now call Australian Royalty! This...

Ten Ancestors Who Shaped Us

Ten is a significant number in my family history. My father was one of ten siblings, and my grandfather also came from a family of ten, which included two step-sisters. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away when I was only ten years old, but her memory lives on through the stories and traditions passed down by...

So Far Away – Donald MacKay

Week 22's prompt for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is So Far Away. It didn't take me long to come up with the idea to write up a story about my husband Bob's paternal family. The MacKay's from Rogart in Sutherlandshire, Scotland. His father, Donald and uncle Jock (Jannetas) set sail in 1924 per...