Paul Tuohey Graduates as a Doctor.

Proud Grandfather Ron Hickson with his eldest Grandson , Paul Tuohey after Paul's graduation as a Doctor at Melbourne University on Saturday December 5th 2009.

Paul is pictured with his proud Auntie Dianne Hickson who travelled from Muskerry East, collecting Ron from Bendigo on the way.

Paul with his sister Kylie and their Grandfather, Ron Hickson.

Paul with his very proud sister Kylie McMahon (nee Tuohey).

Paul's wife Kim was a great support to Paul in helping him achieve his goal of being a Doctor.Paul initially graduated in Computer Science and worked in that field for many years. At a mature age and with four young sons he chose the field of Medicine and has graduated at age 35.

Paul receives his degree from the University Dean. He was one of 294 graduates .

Paul with his Grandfather Ron before the ceremony.

Today was a very proud day as Ron Hickson's grandson Paul Tuohey graduated from Melbourne University as a Doctor.. There to share the occasion were Ron Hickson, his daughter in law Dianne Hickson (nee Kennedy) , Paul's wife Kim and her parents Neil and Robyn, Paul's sister Kylie and her son Sean and me taking the 100 plus photos.

It was such a proud day for us all. Paul's Mum Kaye Tuohey (nee Hickson) would have been the proudest of Paul but sadly passed away, aged 39, back in 1989 when Paul was only a teenager.

We felt she was with us in spirit today as the occasion was a magnificnt spectacle in Wilson Hall at Melbourne Uni.

I'm sure that the whole Hickson family wishes Paul every success for his future in Medicine.

The Hickson House at Toolleen, Victoria.

Lucy Mary Ann Hickson (nee Aylett)is pictured outside her home in Toolleen with some children, possibly hers.I had a copy of the photo which I scanned. I do not know who has the original photograph.Hopefully if and when we find it we might find the names of the children on the back.

Stepping Back in Time

Bruce Hamblin's magnificent Clydesales, Sam and Max, driven by Roger Hickson were an outstanding part of our Hickson Reunion acivities on Saturday 10th October at Toolleen, Victoria, Australia.

The Hickson Reunion was a Day to Remember

Lucy Wilkinson accepted her present for being the youngest descendant in attendance at the Reunion on Saturday October 10th 2009. Her big sister Ella and her Mum, Carly Wilkinson (nee Hickson) looked on.Making the presentation is Cheryl Payne (nee Hickson) who travelled all the way from her work in Fiji for the Reunion.

The commemorative plaque was unveiled at the reunion by Ron Hickson and Les Smirk who are grandsons of Edward and Lucy Hickson.

The plaque is fixed to the Eastern wall of the Toolleen Community Centre within sight of the original home site of Edward and Lucy Hickson.

The descendants and guests gathered as Yvonne Osborn (nee Hickson) introduced the Five Grandchildren of Edward and Lucy who attended the Reunion
.

Cheryl Payne (nee Hickson)left and Yvonne Osborn (nee Hickson) right are pictured with their uncle, Ron Hickson.

The weather was kind and the Spring day provided wonderful light conditions for our many photographs.

Roger Hickson drove Bruce Hamblin's magnificent Clydesdales Sam and Max. Cheryl, Yvonne, Bryan and Ron enjoyed their first wagon ride for many years.

Roger shows a marked resemblance to his great grandfather, Edward George Hickson.

Roger's daughter Meredith Hickson held her niece Ella Wilkinson as Grandad Roger took them for a ride.

Bruce Hamblin supervised learner driver Roger Hickson as he brought the horses and cart into the Toolleen Reserve.

Kerry Osborn, Yvonne Osborn (nee Hickson) Roger Hickson and his father Ron Hickson. Ron , who was born on 13th April 1918, is the patriarch of the Hickson family.

It was a beautiful Spring day for our Hickson Reunion at Toolleen on Saturday October 10th. The day was a great success and it began with a picnic lunch. We were then entertained by some magnificent Clydesdale horses driven by Edward George Hickson's great grandson, Roger Hickson of Muskerry East (near Toolleen).The horses, Sam and Max, are owned and were expertly handled by Bruce Hamblin of Toolleen.We are very grateful to him for all the effort he put into the occasion.

The unveiling of a plaque commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of Edward George and Lucy Mary Ann Hickson in Australia followed. Two of the couple's grandsons Ron Hickson and Les Smirk unveiled the plaque and the five members of that generation present on the day posed for photos.

The Anniversary Cake was expertly baked by Annice Jensen (nee Hickson and decorated by Faye Reid nee Triplett .

Lucy Mary Anne's great, great, great granddaughter who is also called Lucy, was awarded the "Youngest descendant in attendance at the Reunion" and was pleased with her gift of two books.

It was wonderful to have my sister Cheryl Payne and her husband Simon home from their year in Fiji especially for the Reunion. She helped to tie up all the loose ends in the organizing and that, together with the weather and the wonderful relatives and family friends who attended made the day a great success.

Afternoon Tea, expertly prepared by the Mount Pleasant Football Club Committee was delicious as was the dinner at the Toolleen Hotel in the evening. A truly memorable occasion.

I am hoping to add some more photographs over the next few days and I would LOVE to have some others emailed to me at hicksonreunion@gmail.com .

One Week to go - Yesterday

Back Row: Bert Smirk, Percy Smirk and Viv Smirk
Front Row: Grace Smirk, Olive Smirk, Mrs Bush (Percy's sister) seated, Les Smirk, Maria Smirk with young Stan on her knee.

The second daughter of Edward and Lucy Hickson was Maria Emily.She married Percy Hymus Smirk on 27th August 1907 and they had six children of whom only the youngest, Les Smirk, survives aged 88.
Edward George and Lucy Mary Ann's first child Barbara Lucy Hickson married William Henry Pieper on March 3rd 1903. They had 9 children of whom one remains in NSW- Pearl Logan, who is 91.

This week is the last week before Saturday's Hickson Family Reunion at Toolleen. Numbers are down but enthusiasm is high for those members who look forward to meeting at a family occasion which is not a funeral. Someone asked me recently whether Facebook would replace the School or Family Reunion. I replied that on the contrary, relatively new technologies such as email, Facebook , Twitter and Skype should enhance the Reunion, making it easier to communicate and organize. It's just up to people to put the human effort into attending and interacting.
I have posted some photos from my sister Cheryl's well loved book "Dawn of Hope" which is the Hickson Family story up to 1984. It was launched when we held our first reunion at Toolleen Community Centre in October 1984. Cheryl is home for the reunion all the way from Fiji where she has been teaching this year. Her blog is www.livinginfiji.blogspot.com .

Setting the Scene @ Toolleen

This old photograph is of the Toolleen Hotel back in the late 1800s.It wasn't on the site of the present hotel but further south of its present position.To the left of the photograph is the kind of vehicle which Edward George Hickson used to take fresh produce to Bendigo and bring supplies back for his customers. Apparently on a clear night Lucy could hear him whistling as he travelled down the Toolleen Axedale Road crossed the Northern Highway, over Mt Pleasant Creek and headed home.

Today's Toolleen Hotel can be found on Google Maps and using the Street View facility.One can't help thinking how old Edward George Hickson would be surprised by such technology.

View Larger Map

One Week and One Day to go

Time's flown so fast that my plans to update this blog regularly and feature all the 10 children of Edward and Lucy have flown out the window. Even the school holidays (I'm a Primary Teacher)haven't helped enough.I am happy to be posting this photo of Edward George Hickson's grandson Ron Hickson and his sisters Annice Jensen at left and Grace Triplett on the right. I took it at Uncle Ron's home last weekend as we put the finishing touches to the planning for the Hickson Reunion of Saturday October 10th, 2009.

Mervyn and Mary Hickson

Mervyn and Mary Hickson of Koroit, Victoria, will unfortunately not able to attend this year's
Hickson Reunion. They have regularly attended many of the past family gatherings.We will miss them and wish them well.

This photograph is courtesy of their daughter Ann Paton.

5 Weeks to go

Time is flying past and soon the Reunion day will have come and gone. Hopefully we will have had a beautiful Spring day and lots of happy memories.I'm hoping there will be lots of great photographs too. Speaking of photographs, I have been scanning some from Uncle Ron's book "Forever Forward".


Ron Hickson and Alma Lukander were married at Exeter, South Australia on February 16th 1946.

Ron is pictured third from the left in the middle row. This photograph was taken in 1926 at the Muskerry East State School which was held in the Muskerry East Methodist Church building. His older brother Cecil is first from the left in the same row, and behind him is Ron's older sister, Maud, who later married Charlie Triplett.Third from right in the back row is Isobel Fortune , who married Gordon Dobie and seated on the ground at front left is her younger sister Jean who married Fred Pilgrim.

Ron at Hillsyde before heading back via Adelaide to Alice Springs where he was stationed during World War 2.

Ron as a young boy with his dog Rover on the veranda at "Hillsyde", the family home at Muskerry East.

6 weeks to go until the Reunion

The "Dawn of Hope" was the book written by Cheryl Payne (nee Hickson) before our first Hickson Reunion in 1984.The title was inspired by the name of the ship on which Edward George Hickson travelled to Australia.The cottage on the cover was a sketch of the house which Edward George and Lucy Mary Ann lived in at Toolleen within sight of the Toolleen Community Centre.The sketch was done by Robyn Jensen (now Angove).Unfortunately the book is now sold out.

7 Weeks to go until October 10th Reunion

Today I thought I'd add my parents wedding photo taken on September 1st 1951 at Wesley Methodist Church in Forest Street, Bendigo. Lloyd George Hickson , Edward George's grandson married Ethel Ivy Morgan and they lived at "Homeleigh", Muskerry East which is 7 miles from Toolleen where Edward George settled and the Reunion will be held. I still have Mum's wedding dress which I will take to the Reunion along with their photo.Hopefully lots of people will do the same as weddings are family occasions and celebrations worth remembering long after the bride and groom have gone.

The second photograph is of the property where Lloyd and Ethel raised me, my sister Cheryl (now Cheryl Payne who wrote "Dawn of Hope", her story of Edward George, Lucy Mary Ann and their descendants) and my brother James who now lives at Woodvale near Bendigo. Currently property is now owned by Lloyd's nephew Bryan and Debbie Hickson.Bryan, second son of Ron and Alma Hickson, is President of the Mount Pleasant Football Club whose ground and rooms adjoin the Toolleen Community Centre where the Reunion will be held.

Edward George and Lucy Mary Ann HICKSON

Edward George Hickson

Born 15/12/1837 Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Died 21/12/1915 Toolleen, Victoria

Lucy Mary Ann Hickson (nee Aylett)

Born 31/7/1856 Sussex, England

Died 5/3/1942 Heathcote, Victoria

Getting Organized

Last Sunday a Reunion organizing committee met at Ron and Alma Hickson's house in Strathdale, Bendigo, Victoria. Joining Ron and Alma were Grace Triplett (nee Hickson), Grace's daughter Faye Reid, Anne Bramley (nee Triplett),Yvonne Osborn (nee Hickson).Cheryl Payne (nee Hickson) who usually leads such meetings is living in Fiji this year and was unable to attend on Sunday. Fortunately she will be home especially for the Reunion.

We were very pleased to have Ron's granddaughters Carly Wilkinson (nee Hickson) and Linda Kristiansen (nee Hickson) in the group and little Ella Wilkinson who stole the show in Grandpa's hat.

Many details were decided upon and we hope to send invitations out this weekend.

Countdown until Saturday October 10th 2009

Family occasions such as "Christmas at Maud's" are great opportunities to record family history through photographs.
Things which cannot adequately be conveyed in words such as the decor, the fashions and the social conditions are evident here as William James (Jim) Hickson, his second wife Ada (nee Brady) and some of his family sit down to Christmas Dinner.

It is 9 weeks today until we meet at Toolleen Community Centre, Toolleen in central Victoria to celebrate the arrival in Australia of Edward George Hickson from Ireland. It will be a special reunion because this year it is the 150th Anniversary of his arrival.


Tomorrow an organizing group will meet in Bendigo at the home of Edward George's grandson Ron Hickson and his wife Alma and they will finalize details of the day such as activities and meal costs etc. That will enable invitations to be on their way out to family members by next weekend.



The photograph above features two generations of Edward George Hickson's descendants who attended the last Hickson reunion at Lockington , Victoria in October 2007. This year we return to Toolleen where Edward George and his wife Lucy Mary Ann ( nee Aylett) lived.

Welcome to our Reunion Blog

This year we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the arrival in Australia of Edward George Hickson upon the "Dawn of Hope". The website http://www.hicksons.org/ has general Hickson family details you may wish to research.
This reunion, our 8th since 1984, will be held at the Toolleen Community Centre in Toolleen, Victoria .Toolleen is where Edward met Lucy Mary Ann Aylett and married her, settling and raising a large family on a site very close to the Community Centre. We would like to have as many of their descendants attend as possible.
Pictured is our Family Crest, that of the Irish Hicksons which is featured on Anthony Hickson's above website and has been used as the decorative plaque on our Reunion cakes.

Keep tuned to this Blog for regular updates and photographs.