CollinsPlus
E-news
THE EDITOR IS GOING ON HOLIDAYS!! There will not be a November Newsletter because the Editor will be
having fun in the sun instead of having fun on the computer. I will be accessing
emails remotely so keep your contributions coming so we can have a bumper
newsletter in December. Barb
Edition 4.
October 2004
Editor: Barbara Collins - admin@collinsplus.com
You can send news at any time to The
Editor. A reminder email will be sent out a little while before each edition is
due. So please keep the newsletter in mind whenever anything happens in your
family that you would like to tell everyone about!
Index
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All about ……. (This month:
Con Collins) |
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Website
News
Have you had a look around in the CollinsPlus website recently? The address is www.collinsplus.com.
The Family Tree has been totally redone so any links on the
website will now go to Collins
Family Tree. See more information in Barbara Collins news below.
Collins
Cash Update. Elise is still leading the race with
CC$s. If you want to see who has earned points for what, have a look at the
Collins Cash Summary (No longer operational Dec 09). It also has some rules on
it and the points are colour coded. The points next to your name are in colours
e.g. black means you have contributed something to the newsletter. The list at
the top of the summary tells you what the colours mean. If you have any questions about this sheet,
or how to earn points, email the editor.
Who’s bios are new on the website this month? Mary Gough (nee Collins)
and Zachary Gough. You can give your family and friends the website address of
your biography so they can go straight to it. How? Open the page you want to
send, then
- Go to File in the Toolbar
- Go to Send to
- Go to Send – link by email (or similar wording)
An email will come up with the link in it and you just have to put in the email
address of the person you want to send it to!
This month, contact has been made
with –
Leo Squires
This is a bit of a brain teaser but Leo is
-second cousin to Con Collins
-second cousin once removed to e.g. Mary Collins (and her generation)
-second cousin twice removed to e.g. Wade Collins (and his generation)
Leo is researching the part of the family
tree associated with Con’s mother’s ancestors.
Peter Deacon
Peter is the only son of Mary (Molly) Lennon who was Bridget’s youngest sister.
He lives in Queensland with his wife, Judy, and his two sons, James and Mark.
Barb and Paul hope to visit them when they visit Queensland in October.
Go to Collins Family in CollinsPlus
Website
Social Events
Next family dinner 31st October, 6pm at Con’s place in West Brunswick.
Selection of finger food type yummies – share cost! BYO drink. All welcome. If you want to join in, please
let Barb know.
Con Collins and Cathy Zoch (nee Collins)
Con and Cathy had a combined birthday
celebration on 22nd September. Con was 82 and Cathy was 40 a few
days later. We celebrated at the Waterloo Hotel.
Happy
Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Dad and
Cathyyyyyy, Happy
birthday to YOUs. Click here for more pictures!
Bridget Collins
Bridget (nee Lennon) is wife of Con Collins.
Barbara Collins
I’ve been working on the Family Tree. I
have been using a program called “Family Tree Maker” and it’s certainly been an
interesting project. I have used the combined information supplied by Margaret McManus,
Con Collins and Leo Squires to build this tree. In addition, I
have added in the information supplied by my partner, Paul Teres, on his
family history. Here are some facts that you might find interesting:
There are 436 names
in the tree.
120 marriages are
recorded
The earliest recorded
birthdate is 1828 – Cornelius Charles Collins (was Cullens).
There are 123
different surnames.
Have a look for
yourself here Collins
Family Tree Under My Family History you will find a surname list.
Find your name in there and click on it for a little story about YOU.
If you are looking through this information
and find a mistake – please let me know as soon as possible so I can correct
it. If you have information to add to the tree, I would love to have it.
Tyson Collins
(Tyson is the second born son of Graham Collins who is first born son
of Con Collins – and Godson of the Editor, Aunty Barb)
Tyson reports that his health is good. He’s been
doing weights 3 times a week, and swimming 1500m each night, so he’s looking
after his fitness. He is enjoying the single life and really looking forward to
summer! He’s also looking around the job marketplace at the moment
Darcy Collins
(Darcy is the fourth born son of Graham Collins who is first born son of Con Collins)
Darcy says that he has been getting stuck
into Pre-Season training. His routine is weights, strengthening his upper body,
3 times a week, and running a middle distance run (approx 2.4km) twice a week.
This exercising is keeping him very busy and he says his body feels exhausted.
But all the hard work is paying off and it is getting him ready for football
season 2005. He also has his Debutante Ball in October. Dance lessons are
currently in progress. Darcy doesn’t think he’s much of a dancer and is hoping
to learn a lot.
He is also working really hard with two part time jobs – one at Target and one
at MacDonalds. His 16th birthday is coming up on 17th
October and he is going to have a party at home.
Carly Collins
(Carly is the only
daughter of Graham Collins who is first born son of Con Collins)
Carly came second in the Village Green Eliminator – just missed out
on the trip by 11 people but won a $250 voucher for the bottle shop. Not a bad
prize.
She has left her job at Target and is now working 3 days a week as a
receptionist with her Uncle Fred (who is married to her mother’s sister – Josie
Mayer (nee Koury).
Wade Collins
(Wade is the third born son
of Graham Collins who is first born son of Con Collins)
Wade is studying really hard at the moment for his end of year exams
in October.
The Zoch Family
Catherine Zoch is the 4th girl in the Con and Bridget
Collins Family. She is married to John Zoch. Go to Zoch Family
page.
Cathy celebrated her 40th
birthday with a with a number of celebrations that extended over a week or
so!!!!
The Gough Family
Mary Gough is the 3rd girl in the Con and Bridget Collins Family. She is married to Chris Gough. Go to Gough Family page.
Zac Gough
(Youngest son of Mary Gough
nee Collins)
Zac’s school competed in the Wakakiri and Zac
was an ant in The Hungry Caterpillar. Zac’s school came second in division two
this year.
The Cabrera Family
Judith
(nee Collins) is married to Renato Cabrera.
Judi and Renato have been enjoying more
Latino fun together. They attended a friendly game of Soccer
between the Chilean and Australian Under 17's. Chile won, but to go to the
soccer where three quarters of the ground is taken up by Chilean
supporters, is lots of fun and very exciting. “Forget the game”, says Judi,
“just watch and join in the fun of very fanatical supporters.”
They also attended the weekend of the
Chilean Festival for Chilean Independence Day. This is non stop day
and night eating, drinking, dancing all Latino Style. They are glad it's
only once a year.
Judi's been getting a bit of work at Bi-Lo,
but mainly in the Deli - YUK (all she can think of is the money).
The Teres Family
Paul Teres is partner to Barbara Collins, firstborn daughter of Con
Collins. Go to Teres Family in CollinsPlus
Website
Picture of Paul when he received
acknowledgement from the Red Cross for having given 150 blood donations.
And here is Paul training for the Great Victorian Bike Ride in November. He has
Barbara’s bike set up in the courtyard on a stationary trainer so he can train
while he watches television! (He is also training out on the road.) He’ll be
taking his roadster bike on holidays to Queensland so he can continue his
training up there while Barbara relaxes on the beach.
Paul Teres
and Barb off on holidays in October to visit Paul’s 95 year old Dad for his
birthday, then on to the Gold Coast for a week and then to Maroochydor for a
week. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Watch out for pictures in the next
newsletter.
Each newsletter, there is a featured family
member. This month, the featured CollinsPlus member is the Ground Zero man
himself, Cornelius Charles Collins! Go to Con
Collins page on Collins Plus website. Con is the sponsor and patron of the
CollinsPlus website.
Cornelius Charles Collins 1922-
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I was born in
Glenferrie, Melbourne. Dad was
transferred to Beechworth mid 1920’s.
My first recollection of country life was lying on a table having my
arms and legs manipulated by mum and dad in front of a huge open fire. I had contracted mild polio. We resided in
Mulish Street and my first set back in life was losing, firstly my marbles,
then my cherry bobs, to the “proddo” boys around the corner. This must have stirred my competitive
nature, as it wasn’t long before I became the “Tyre Belting” champion of the
neighbourhood. (To this generation “Tyre Belting” was to get old tyres from
the garage and have races around the block, belting a tyre along while
running.) |
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In 1934 dad
was transferred back to Royal Park. For a while we boarded in Carlton. I went to St George’s School and
represented them in the High Jump. I
deadheated for 1st in the combined schools under 13. I later attended St. Joseph’s Christian
Brothers College in North Melbourne.
My only claim to fame was winning the “Potato” race. I also won the mile bike race at North
Melbourne football ground. I only had an old Roadster and defeated a chap
with a racing bike and trainer. This
race started the seed of thoughts of bike riding; however the prize bike I
had in mind was beyond my pockets. I
drooled over a semi racer in Hartleys. It had hub brakes, lights run by
dynamo off the front wheel tyre and, wait for it, 3 gears. I had to have it,
but the 13 pounds, 14 shillings and sixpence was beyond my reach. I borrowed
four pounds deposit from mum, put it on lay-by and paid it off at one
shilling a week for three years. Boy,
what a day it was when I rode this machine for the first time. |
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I did not like
to study therefore I only passed sub intermediate year. However, I was always very good at
arithmetic and algebra. I loved both these subjects. I applied for position
in the government. In the 1930s, people who had lived through the depression
saw a government job to be a secure and worthy position. I had to sit for a
statewide examination. I was lucky enough
to come fifth in Victoria and soon obtained a position in the P.M.G. (Post
Office) as a telegraph messenger. I was promoted to the circulation section
of the telegraph branch. It was not
long before I was made officer-in-charge of over 100 young men. I spent five
years in the army and served time in Papua New Guinea during World War 2. When I returned to civilian
life, I become a counter officer in the Elizabeth Street Post Office. After seven years, I obtained a position
as a clerk in the Navy Department in St. Kilda Road. In the early 1960s I was
promoted to a position as officer-in-charge of Registry with the Australian
National Line. I remained at ANL
until my retirement in 1978. |
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My greatest
sporting love was cricket. I always
felt that I could have gone to greater heights if I had not spent five years
in the army. I was a left hand
opening batsman. I opened for the
Battalion Hibernians Y.M.C.A. midweek Wednesday competition A.N.L. I also did a bit of offbreak bowling. I discovered I was no McEnroe at tennis so
took to golf. What a wonderful game!
At 35, it was a bit late to take lessons. At my peak, I played to about 18
handicap. However, the first time I failed to break 100, I gave up golf and
took up lawn bowls. I have enjoyed
this game for over 35 years. |
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During World War 2, I met Bridget
Lennon while I was on leave. We started to write to each other and the
letters became increasingly more romantic.
I proposed to her in the Silver Grill, Hotel Australia, in 1946. We married in St. John the Baptist Church
in Clifton Hill in 1948. We settled
in West Brunswick and had five children – Barbara,
Graham, Judith,
Mary
and Cathy. To support my
growing family, I implemented my income by working as a cleaner, an S.P.
Bookie, a truck driver and odd jobs man.
Because of the longer hours working, I have always carried a feeling
of guilt as my wife and her mother spent the majority of time raising our
children. |
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As a release
from the stress of earning a crust, I would often give the drink a bit of a
nudge, especially on Friday nights. My family have many interesting and
amusing in (retrospect) stories to tell of my Friday nights. I now have
fond memories of my family and our holidays on the cheap. Three trips to
Tasmania, across the Nullarbor, up to Darwin, Sydney three times, Adelaide
three times, Queensland three times, most of the scenic towns of Victoria
and, in particular, back to Beechworth three times. Bridget and I had great
times at the dances at St. Ambrose Hall, a country wedding at Colac, a second
honeymoon at Port Fairy. My world came
crashing down some years back, when I found my wife to be suffering from
Dementia. I would have liked to make up for the failings in my early life
during our older years. But that is no longer possible. Tears well up when I
think that Bridget does not remember any of the good times. I hope my almost daily visits to Bridget’s
nursing home brings some comfort to her. Sometimes she recognises me and I am
rewarded with a big smile and kiss. I only hope she is happy in her state. |
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My children
are my life now. They make life bearable (plus my bowls). I am fortunate to
have my daughter, Judith and her husband, Renato,
living at home with me and assisting me in many ways. My other children,
Barbara, Graham, Mary and Cathy all pop in for visits or call for a chat on
the phone or are just there when I need them. I am also very proud of our 10
grandchildren and look forward to watching their young lives develop. I have always
had a dog as a companion. Timmy, Jackie Googan, Lassie, Blackie, Mr Dog and
Sooty have all been wonderful dogs - giving love and loyalty without
complaint. Bear now fills the gap left by
the loss of my old canine friends. |
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Although I feel
fine and am not too bad in the head and body for someone in his eighties, I
feel I have started on the last part of my journey. I can look back on my life and see where I’ve been and what
I’ve done and know that, by and large, it is a good journey! |
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Carly Collins
Only daughter of Graham Collins who is only son of Con
Collins.
Carly
is doing a Personal Training course at Box Hill Institute of TAFE.
CARLY'S OCTOBER
HEALTH TIP
Let’s talk about
fat.
Fats in the diet
are essential for good health, but too much can be unhealthy, Here are simple
facts about fat:
There are 9 calories per gram in fat and only
4 calories per gram in protein and carbohydrates.
Dietary fat is more readily converted and
stored as body fat than protein and carbohydrates.
Australians consume too much fat – in one
year, males consume on an average 40kg or 8 buckets of fat, and females, 30 kg
or 6 buckets. Yuk!
We consume around 40% of our diet in fat when
a range of 20% - 30% is considered to be much healthier.
Food does not have to look or taste greasy to
contain lot of fat. Sometimes the taste of the fat is hidden by other flavours
and textures e.g. cakes, biscuits, cheese, mayonnaise, icecream, chocolate,
potato chips.
So how do we find
out more about these hidden fats? In the next newsletter, I will give you a
calculator for working fat content out for yourself. You will be shocked when
you find out how much fat you are really eating!
Happy birthday to:
Wade Collins.
18th Birthday - October 4th. Wade is third son
of Graham Collins who is only son of Con Collins.
Darcy Collins. 16th Birthday - October 17th.Darcy
is fourth son of Graham Collins who is only son of Con Collins.
Due to Barbara being on holidays, the
November newsletter will not be produced - so happy birthday to these people
for November!
Joelle Collins. November 1st. Wherever you are Joelle, happy
birthday!!! We miss you. Joelle was married to Graham Collins, only
son of Con Collins. Joelle sadly passed over on November 7th, 2003.
Jessica Zoch.
November
2nd. Jessica is first daughter of Cathy Zoch who is fourth
daughter of Con Collins.
Bridget Collins. November 21st. Bridget is married to Con Collins.
Click here for
your a birthday card everybody! (Turn your sound
on)
If your birthday was in October or November
and you are not on this list, email the editor and send in your birth date.
Earn a CC$1 for each item published in Funny Stuff!
Clever Test
Double
click on the Monday test below to see how clever you are! Let me know what you
got. Thanks Sophie.
Tattoo of the year?
THE
PAOMNNEHAL PWEOR OF THE HMUAN MNID
(I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was
radgnieg)
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer
in waht order the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that
the frist and lsat ltteer be in the
rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit
porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the human mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef,
but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig huh?
People over 25 should be dead!
“This was sent to
me by a dear friend to read and I am passing it onto those who I think may find
it amusing.” Con
Click here
if you are over 25.
All
websites featured in this newsletter are archived on the Links Page of the
CollinsPlus site for future reference.
An Interview with God
A
beautiful presentation passed on by Kath Collins (wife
of Bill Collins who was brother of Con Collins). Thanks Aunty Kath. Interview with God
Finding Nemo
Did
you like Finding Nemo, then you’ll like this site: http://thq.com/FindingNemo/Index2.asp (No longer functioning
Dec 09).
Games
www.dragongamez.com
Elise says this is a good website for kids
and adults. It has lots of games like Mini Putt 2 which her dad likes playing.
For people who love the planets
Darcy says he is not really interested in
astronomy but he is presenting an assignment on planets and "how the world
began" theories. He found this good site for planet lovers: http://www.the-solar-system.net
(No longer functioning Dec 09)
For kids who want
to be rich when they grow up
www.mtrek.com.au Hey
kids! Discover mtrek, where you can learn about money, saving, spending and
investing with a lot of interactivity, some hands-on problem solving and a
pinch of silliness. Here, learning about money is an exploration and not just a
homework assignment.
Hey Parents! This site was created for kids and is sponsored by ING. There is a parents corner and you may want to join them as they explore mtrek, so you can answer any questions they have and help them through some of the more challenging terrain. Older kids will probably be ready to set out on their own.
The Cheapskate Journal is an Australian website dedicated to showing you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun. It’s FULL of hints an tips on stretching your dollar. If you’re on a budget – this is the site for you. http://www.cheapskates.com.au/pages/default.cfm?page_id=9555
Planning on traveling
overseas?
This currency converter could come in handy: http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Chatroom Times
There will be no scheduled times in the Family
Moments chatroom in October or November.
Congratulations
this month to ….
ü Carly Collins for coming a close 2nd in the Village
Green Eliminator Competition
ü Zac Gough for being in the Waikiki
entry that came 2nd
ü Carly Collins for gaining 95% in
the Nutrition Exam in her Personal Trainer Course
Got something you want to buy, or sell, or
give away? Do it here!
Avon Open House at Barb’s
Click here for your invitation
(removed) to this fun event!
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Passing on this newsletter
Pass this newsletter on to people in your family who have not seen it yet. They
might like to become involved as well. All they need to do is email the Editor
and say they would like to be on the site, and they will be sent information.
If you want to send this newsletter to an extended family member, this is how
you can do it.
- Go to File in the Toolbar
- Go to Send to
- Go to Send – link by email (or similar wording)
An email will come up with the link in it and you just have to put in the email
address of the person you want to send it to!