CollinsPlus
E-news
Edition 3. April 2006
Editor:
Barbara Collins
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Index
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All about Cornelius Collins Senior |
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Website news
Next newsletter will be published early
June.
Collins Family News
Go to Collins Family in CollinsPlus
Website
Social Events
First Family get together for 2006
Our first get together was at Gregory Lodge Nursing home so Bridget
could also be involved in this get together as many family members were away
over Easter.
Although it was a bit chilly, the sun
stayed out while we enjoyed lunch together. Judi and Renato arrived early to
set up the BBQ and seating arrangements and prepare Bridget for the visitors.
Bridget was in a good mood and we even saw a few smiles!! Cathy brought Jessica
and Elise. Elise has just turned 15 and Jessica told us about her recent
experience at the Holocaust Museum. Graham brought Carly and Darcy. Carly had
lots to tell about her performance in the closing ceremony at the Commonwealth
Games. Darcy had everyone looking closely at his nose which was broken during a
recent unpleasant incident. Con brought Bear who entertained us with his antics
in the mondo grass (see picture below). We had a very pleasant few hours eating
and catching up on news. Renato had made his famous Chilean pork belly to share
and Barbara produced her delicious Rocky Road. Here are some of the family and click here for more pictures:
Easter Sunday
Guess where? Yes, at Gregory Lodge. It’s
great to be able to get together and socialise in a place where Bridget can
easily be included. Although she appears not to be aware of what is going on
around her, we do know by her reactions at times that there is some awareness.
Graham, Darcy and Carly came for lunch and Bridget distinctly said “Tyson” (who
is overseas at the moment). She also responds by rolling her eyes when she is
given something sweet to eat which is a way she signals she is happy. Renato
and Judi cooked up a storm for everyone with more of that great Chilean pork
belly and delicious salads. Paul’s daughter, Lisa, joined us this Easter which
was terrific and, although the weather was on the coolish side, we had a
pleasant lunch together before Graham and the kids left for an Easter
celebration at Josie’s (Joelle’s sister), and we settled into looking at Lisa’s
pictures of her holiday in New Zealand.
Graham made a very
good Easter Bunny! See
more pictures here!
One of Bridget’s carers, Mercy, popped in
during lunch to show us some pictures of herself with a few of the Kenyan
athletes at the Commonwealth Games. Here is one of the pictures – the athletes
on the right won 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the
Men’s1500m.
Next Family Get Togethers
Have you put these dates in your diary yet
for the family get togethers?
July 9
October 8
Graham Collins
(Graham Collins is the first and only son of Con Collins who is the
Ground Zero man for this website. Graham
Collins Family)
Wade
Wade has let us know about his experience working at the Grand Prix.
He says, “I loved it. I pretty much just stood in a grandstand checking tickets
with a perfect view of the track for the whole 4 days. The main race on the
Sunday was great and there was plenty of action in front of my stand. I met
some great people there so it was always entertaining chatting to them while
"working". I am even more excited about the after party for all of
the employees in a couple of weeks!!!”
Tyson
Tyson and Kate are having an amazing time
in Europe. Read all about it in Tyson’s
Travel Blog.
Here they are in
front of London Bridge and click
here for more pictures.
Brenton
“I've been giving serious consideration to buying some property over
the last few months. Met with a company that takes care of the entire process -
finds the place, secures tenants, etc. But they were putting a bit of pressure
on me to rush into something, and I don't think I'm ready at the moment. But
it's now on my priority list, so I'm hoping that within 12 months I might put
something in place. (Ed: GOOD ON YOU BRENTON!!!!!!)
I'm playing pool again. I had decided I was going to take the year
off, but they lured me back. It's fun to catch up with the guys once a week. We
have a really strong team so we win most weeks. Just that the home and away season
goes for 27 weeks, and then the finals series is another 3 weeks after that, so
there goes my Tuesdays until late September!!”
Carly
Well, my Commonwealth Games experience. Where do I start!! The
rehearsals were very draining. They were all in Laverton, at the RAAF army
base. I had about 25 rehearsals all up, including many on Sunday mornings!!
Yuk! But they kept telling us it would all be worthwhile when the night came.
And they were right. It was just the best atmosphere ever!! The crowd just got us
so pumped up! I had never performed in front of an audience that size, the
flashes of cameras, and the roar when we walked out was just unreal!!!
Adrenaline was pumping all the way!! At the end of the finale, we had rehearsed
to just march off and exit. But the organisers alerted us via our in-ear
monitors that we could run to the middle of the arena and party with the
athletes while John Farnham performed!! That was very exciting!
Afterwards, the cast management had organised an after-party for all
cast members to attend at the Richmond Club Hotel, but I thought to myself, I
would much rather go to the athletes after party. Just so happens a few of my
friends had already purchased tickets, ($70), but it was too late for me to buy
one at the time. I remembered a friend of mine who gets tickets to basically
everything for free through his work. So I gave him a bell, and sure enough he
was already at the after-party and had a spare ticket!!!
I was so excited! It was at QBH nightclub. They called the party
"The Last Lap". It had been on every night of the Commonwealth Games,
but obviously closing night was expected to be the best. I had such a ball.
There were athletes everywhere. All from different nations, and they are all so
friendly! You could just walk up and have a conversation with anyone! Got
shouted a lot of drinks by them! For the majority of the night me and the girls
were dancing with the Australian boxing guys, and some of the Scottish athletes
(wearing kilts!) Others that we also met and chatted with were Gian Rooney,
Liesel Jones, the Australian lawn bowls team, heaps of the Jamaican and
Mauritius track guys, and so many more, just can’t remember all their names!!
Stayed there till it closed, 5am, then went over to Crown for a
while, then got the first train home from the city and dad picked me up from
the train station! Got to sleep at about 7:30am!! Was pretty tired for a few
days after, but it definitely worth it. Had a great night and so many
memories!!
Carly is on the
right. In this shot she is one of the ‘Sweetheart Girls’. See more
pictures here.
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.
Jessica
I went to Stawell with my friend and that was a lot of fun but very very
bery cold; and basically I've just been at school working really hard. Studying
and practicing for my drama class ensemble. I'm still working at Toy Kingdom
saving all my money spending very little and that's it. I would have more news
- but it's all basically just school work at the moment!
The Teres Family
Paul Teres is partner to Barbara Collins,
daughter of Con Collins. Go to Teres Family
page.
Lisa
Lisa had an adventure filled holiday in New Zealand. In Auckland,
before commencing her Contiki Tour, she emailed: “Auckland is a great place and
the weather has been fine since I arrived. Today I did another day tour...this
time to Rotorua. I ended up going with a smaller company called Greenworld
tours. There was only 8 of us in the minibus and I was picked up from the hotel
at 7am and we drove to Rotorua where I went to the Polynesian spa pools and
then went to the Puatui thermal area to see the Geysers and volcanic area, and
also watched a Maori concert. It was fantastic and I could quite easily have
spent a few days there.....maybe next visit! The mineral spa pools were
wonderful! On the way back the tour went to the Waitomo glow worm caves which
was also very interesting. I got dropped back at my hotel at 7.30 pm so it was
a very long day...and my second full day tour in two days. Tomorrow I will
sleep in and then I fly to Christchurch in the afternoon. I’m staying at the
Holiday Inn tomorrow night and then meet up with my tour mates on Tuesday
evening to start the Contiki tour.”
Other highlights included a cruise on Milford Sound, being
transported to the top of a mountain by helicopter and then trekking for two
and a half hours on a glacier before being picked up again by the helicopter. Although
drawing the line at bungy jumping, she did jump out of a plane and here is the
picture to prove it. (Lisa is on the bottom!) The holiday included lots of
socialising as well as action. It goes without saying she is already planning
for her next holiday.
Barb and Paul
Barb says, “We have
been busy planning our wedding, which will be a very small, family, adults only
(sorry kids) family affair. This was a compromise with Paul’s plan of eloping
and getting married at sea. Everything is set except what I’m going to wear and
that COULD take the next four months to decide. More news closer to the time in
August. It will not be a traditional wedding though – can’t really see myself
in a bride’s get up at 57! Paul’s been
up to Brisbane again to visit Pauline and to make sure she is safe and
comfortable. It will be a relief when she will finally be able to come to
Melbourne to live. Paul is happy that the football season has started and that
his team, Collingwood, seems to be off to a good start. We are setting out for
a holiday in Bright tomorrow and we are taking our bikes with us to explore the
great bike paths they have up there. I hope there are some autumn leaves still
about – I’m hoping to take some very autumnal pics for the next newsletter.”
All about Cornelius Collins
Senior 17/4/1897
– 2/6/1952
As told by Cornelius Charles Collins Junior
2005
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Cornelius Charles Collins (Snr) was born on 17 April, 1897 in Stanley, Victoria. Not much is known of his early life. His early teenage life was in Stanley,
Victoria. He enlisted in the army when he was very young. He could not have
been older than 17. He was wounded in action at Gallipoli* and repatriated to
England. The bullet in his thigh caused infection and he required a few
operations it locate it. His wound was so severe, he was sent back to
Australia. |
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He married Mary
Agnes (Molly) Coffey in
Glenferrie on 30 August 1920. He was a warden in a mental hospital at Kew
before being transferred to Beechworth in approximately 1927. He was a good cricketer and represented a
country team that played a Country vs City competition each year. He once
bowled Jack Ryder – a famous cricketer in those times. Dad was also a first class marksman. He
was picked to represent a country team in a competition at Williamstown
Firing Range. He came third. |
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He and his mates often went out
rabbiting and brought home a couple of dozen rabbits for us to eat. This was
during the 1930 depression when things were pretty grim. In 1934 he was transferred back to
Melbourne and worked at Royal Park until his early death in 1952. |
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If ever you wanted a role model as a man
and father, Dad was the answer. He was a kind, loving and gentle man. He
never spoke ill of anyone. He taught my brother (Bill)
and me (Con
Jnr) to play cricket and partake in sport. I fully appreciate that
grounding that gave me many hours of pleasure. *View Cornelius Collins Snr’s war
medals here |
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Happy birthday to
Mary Gough and Peter Deacon in April: Click here for your
birthday card.
If your birthday
falls in April and you are not on this list, email the editor and send in your birth date.
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Easter Fun
Hope
you all had a happy and peaceful Easter. Easter had passed by for this year but
hope you enjoy these Easter amusements.
Jesus’ Dad’s Name
Click here to read some cute children’s
observations.
Easter Bunny joke
Click here to read.
Cool
links
All websites featured in this newsletter are archived on the Links Page of the CollinsPlus site for future reference.
Congratulations this month to ….
ü Jessica for having a great savings plan
ü Lisa for having such an adventurous holiday
in New Zealand
ü Renato for being a great cook
ü Brenton for planning to be a property owner
ü Carly for performing at the Commonweatlh
Games AND having so much fun
ü Cornelius Collins Snr (Con’s Dad) for
starting this Collins Family
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