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.