This book was written for my children so that they would have a better understanding of the day-to-day lives of their ancestors. Rather than provide them with a family chart listing names and dates I wanted them to be able to visualize their ancestors in the Australian society as it was at the time.

I would like to thank my aunt, Vivienne Russell (nee West) for her assistance and for the loan of the family photographs.

Wherever possible I have used primary sources for births, deaths and marriages. I have made various assumptions regarding the daily lives of many of our ancestors and I apologise to any family member if my assumptions are incorrect.

 Carol McNeill (nee West)