Hickson Reunion Saturday 14th October 2017 at Toolleen

Edward George Hickson and his wife Lucy Mary Ann Aylett, settled in Toolleen in 1859 and had 10 children

In his obituary in the “Bendigo Advertiser” on Thursday 23^rd December, 1915, it was reported that “an old resident of Toolleen had died at the age of 78. He had been a carrier between Toolleen and Bendigo and that he would be buried at the Heathcote Cemetery”. Lucy lived on for many years until she passed away in 1942

Some of the Hickson descendants are still farming nearby in Muskerry East, ( the youngest descendant present at our Reunion was Lexi Hickson, 7 months, who belongs to one of those families).

The eldest descendant present was Mr Ron Hickson who is 99 and will turn 100 years of age in mid-April 2018

In 2019, we will celebrate 160 years since his arrival to Melbourne from County Kerry in Ireland.

This was our 10^th Family Reunion since our first one in 1984 when the book “Dawn of Hope” outlining the history of the Hickson family, was launched.

Nearly 80 family members and invited friends of the Hickson family attended.

Each reunion we cut an Anniversary Cake and have items of memorabilia featuring our family crest for sale. Our motto is “Fide et Fortitudine” which means “By Faith and Fortitude”.

Toolleen Tin Shed -A unique historic venue with its array of farm and blacksmith implements along with other local history memorabilia which added to the nostalgic ambiance.

This display was supplemented on the day, by many items brought to the Reunion by the descendants. This year, the exceedingly SIGNIFICANT item unearthed was the mislaid Hickson Family Bible !! 

Family members were overjoyed to view photos in the front of the bible, many unseen previously.

This Reunion’s updated booklet, included research into the family history as far back as 1749 noting Edward George’s grandfather, Robert Fitzjohn Hickson, Esq. from Dingle in Ireland.

Before each Reunion, the family charts are up-dated and been available for sale.  New information and modifications, can be sent at any time to Elaine Longford ( nee Welshe) email:  elongford@sme.com.au or to Cheryl Payne ( nee Hickson) email: cherylgracepayne@gmail.com.au

Notes by Cheryl Payne.

Our October 14th, 2017 Hickson Reunion at Toolleen

It's only seven weeks until we all get together again at the Tin Shed at Toolleen, Victoria. This year we celebrate the 158 years since the family members arrived in Australia. During that time there have been so many descendants of Edward George Hickson and his wife Lucy Mary Ann Aylett that it is difficult to give an exact number. It must be over 2000 though. Invitations have been posted out and we look forward to prompt replies to help with catering. It will be wonderful to catch up with all the descendants born since our last Reunion and to meet our patriarch Ron Hickson who is now 99 years young. The photo was taken by Cheryl Payne( nee Hickson). She is particularly excited because her daughter Lauren ( who often works on the Registration Desk at our Reunions) is due to have a new descendant  for our growing Hickson family in late October. We hope to see you there.

Hickson Reunion Saturday October 17th 2015

Last Saturday was a great day for the many Hickson descendants who gathered at the Toolleen Pub's Tin Shed. Family members enjoyed a delicious roast lunch and spent the afternoon catching up with each other, taking photos, posing for a group photo and sharing afternoon tea.
Presentations were made to the oldest, youngest, furthest traveled, longest married couple etc. Floral bouquets were awarded to main organizer Cheryl Payne and family record keeper, Elaine Longford. Our Oldest Family Member, Ron Hickson cut the Reunion cake which was  decorated by Faye Reid. His sisters, Grace Triplett and Annice Jensen and cousins Les Smirk and Elsie Woodgate joined Ron as the centre of attention as they are five of Edward George and Lucy Mary Ann Hickson's nine surviving grandchildren.

During the afternoon we gathered for a group photo.

Our Hickson family crest was the central decoration on the celebratory cake.

We provided some colonial costumes to dress up as our ancestors would have. Lucy and Ella Wilkinson tried out some of the gear.

Cheryl Payne, nee Hickson's, children Christopher and Lauren managed the Registration Desk. We are very grateful that we are able to rely on the younger generation of descendants to help make the Reunions run smoothly.

 Cheryl took a well deserved break to eat the delicious roast lunch.

The Toolleen Pub's Tin Shed was an excellent venue for our Reunion.

2015 Hickson Descendants' Reunion

Our next Family Reunion will be held on Saturday 17th October 2015. Descendants of Edward George Hickson and his wife Lucy Mary Ann Aylett are invited to attend the family gathering which will be held at The Tin Shed, Toolleen, which is a charming part of the historic Toolleen Hotel. It is only a kilometre or so from the site of Edward and Lucy's original home in Toolleen and is a landmark Edward would have passed in his horse drawn cart as he travelled to and from Bendigo with farm produce and supplies for the locals.

Happy 95th Birthday Ronald Edward Hickson, April 13th 2013.

Ronald Edward Hickson ( Ron) was born on April 13th 1918. He was the second son of William James Hickson and Christina May Hickson of Muskerry East in Central Victoria. Ron, who is pictured here with his niece Cheryl Payne (nee Hickson), attended the Muskerry East State School and graduated, achieving his Merit Certificate. He went on to work on his father's farm, served in the Army during World War 2 and worked on his own Muskerry and Toolleen farms until his retirement. Sadly his wife of 66 years, Alma passed away in November 2012. He lives independently in Strathdale, Bendigo. Ron will celebrate his Birthday with his family at lunches over this weekend. Every day is a celebration with this inspirational and caring man,  he's a credit to the Hickson Family, my Uncle Ron.

Happy Birthday Ron and many Happy Returns of the Day from the whole Hickson Family.95 great years is a wonderful achievement and we hope you have many more.

Hickson Reunion 2012

On Saturday October 13th 2012 members and friends of the Hickson family met at Toolleen Community Centre for a reunion. They are the descendants and families of Edward George and Lucy Mary Ann Hickson (nee Aylett) who married in the area on February 10th 1879.The couple raised their family on a property only several hundred metres from the Community Centre.

The Reunion Cake was generously made by Kel Bramley who is married to Edward and Lucy's great granddaughter Anne Bramley, nee Triplett. It was expertly decorated by Anne's cousin Faye Reid, nee Triplett. We are very grateful to Kel and Faye, the cake  looked delightful and was delicious.

 

Our new Reunion Banner stood out in its bright Family crest colour scheme. A  big thank you goes to the team of helpers who set up the Community Centre on Friday 12th October.

New for this year's Reunion were some  colourful drink coolers. They were available for purchase for $5.00 each. We have a lot left  so they may be ordered by emailing quantities and colours to hicksonreunion@gmail.com . Our thanks go to James and Helen Hickson for organizing these.

Unfortunately Cheryl Payne (nee Hickson) was unable to return from her Early Childhood work in Apia, Samoa for the Reunion. She sent us her apologies and an update on her work which was read out during the afternoon. Her husband Simon was able to join us and her children Lauren and Christopher (pictured above) were a great help on the Registration desk and with packing up. They are the great-great grandchildren of Edward and Lucy Hickson.

 

Grace Triplett (nee Hickson) and her elder son Neville took a look through her late sister Maud Triplett (nee Hickson's) photo album.

 
Elsie Woodgate(nee Hickson)  at right came all the way from Beaudesert in Queensland for the reunion. She is pictured with her daughter Cheryl Laidlaw (nee Woodgate) and some of her grandchildren.

 
Howard Osborne (left) and his father Stan, who sadly died last year, are long time friends of the Hickson family. We are very grateful that such families as Howard's, the Griffins and Dorothy Eeles (nee Ashley) are able to join us for our Reunions. Howard is pictured with Family Patriarch Ron Hickson and his youngest sister Annice Jensen (nee Hickson).

The younger generation of helpers include L to R: Lauren Payne, Christopher Payne, Kate Osborn and Kerry Osborn. Sadly they didn't meet their grandfather, Lloyd Hickson, who died suddenly on the farm at Muskerry East aged 51 on April 4th,1977.

Linda Kristiansen (nee Hickson) is pictured with her adorable daughter Paige. Linda and her husband John live in Muskerry East is which is not far from Toolleen.

The weather stayed fine and the afternoon was filled with plenty of time for browsing and chatting.

Harry Willson who is the son of Teagan Byrne and Jason Willson was the youngest descendant in attendance. He was three weeks old. Harry's Grandmother Carol Byrne (nee Hickson) was a wonderful help on set up day and remained with her mother Alma, 90 to allow her father Ron Hickson, 94, to attend the Reunion.

 
Family friend Dorothy Eeles (left) caught up with Len Jensen, Annice Jensen (right) and their daughter Robyn Angove (nee Jensen).

Updated family charts were published by Elaine Longford (nee Welshe) centre. She is pictured with Glenys Jensen (nee Smirk) and Enid Day who is related to us through the Day family in Ireland. We are very grateful to Elaine for all her research and work in keeping the charts up to date. Additional births, deaths and marriages can be emailed to hicksonrenunion@gmail.com .

 
Two cousins who are six days apart in age are  (left) Faye Reid (nee Triplett) and Yvonne Osborn (nee Hickson) Born in June 1953, the girls are great granddaughters of Edward and Lucy Mary Anne Hickson.

Green, yellow and black streamers and balloons decorated the Toolleen Community Centre. The green and yellow are County Kerry's colours in Ireland.

 Receiving his Youngest Hickson Descendant Present award was Harry Willson aged three weeks. He is pictured with his mother Teagan Byrne, Yvonne Osborn (nee Hickson) and his second cousin Ella Wilkinson.

Elsie Woodgate (nee Hickson) came from Beaudesert, Queensland to be part of the older generation in attendance at the Reunion. Her gift was for the Furthest Travelled Descendant. It was a Creative Memories Album.

The five older generation cousins shared in the cutting of the Reunion Cake. Left to Right they are Annice Jensen (nee Hickson) Ron Hickson, Grace Triplett (nee Hickson), Les Smirk and Elsie Woodgate (nee Hickson).

Ron Hickson proudly held his great grandson Harry who was 3 weeks old. Ron was 94 years and 6 months old on the Reunion day having been born on 13th April 1918.

Brian Woodgate and his wife Liza are pictured with their daughter Alizah. Brian is the great grandson of Edward Hickson. He is the grandson of Alf Hickson who worked as a blacksmith at Knowsley, Victoria.

Enid and Kevin O'Toole travelled from Clarkfield, Victoria to join us for the Hickson Reunion. Enid is a relative from the Day family in Ireland. We thank them for their support over many Reunions.

 

 

The Younger Generation of Hicksons

It all began with Edward George Hickson and his wife Lucy Mary Ann (nee Aylett) who married at Toolleen, Victoria, Australia on February 10th 1879. Their oldest son William James (born 26/6/1883) had a  second son Ronald Edward (born 13/4/1918) who had an older son Roger James (born 3/9/1954) who had these delightful young people.
Left to right they are Linda (now Kristiansen)who is proud Mum of one year old Paige Olivia, Meredith who is Nursing in Mildura, Callum, Carly who is Nursing in Bendigo and is proud Mum of Ella and Lucy and Rowan who is farming at Muskerry East like his Great Grandfather, Grandfather and Father. This photo was taken as a gift. These young people are a gift in themselves. We hope to catch up with them at the Hickson Reunion on October 13th, 2012.