CollinsPlus
E-news
Edition 5. July
2006
Editor:
Barbara Collins
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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!
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Website news
I recently joined Genes Reunited (see
Interesting Links further down in newsletter). Almost immediately, I made
contact with a whole branch of the family who have been a mystery up until now.
My great grandmother (Con’s grandmother) on the maternal side was Mary
Chancellor. She married the first Cornelius Charles Collins (although he was
called Cullens that was later changed to Collins) in 1856. One of their
children was Ferdinand and we belong to his line. The side of the family that I
have found is from another son, Elisha.
Collins Family News
Go to Collins Family in CollinsPlus
Website
Social Events
Family
Get together
Last get together was
at the Quarry Hotel in Lygon Street, East Brunswick. As it has such a small
eating area, our table pretty well took up the whole area. It was a warm, cosy
spot to spend a cold afternoon and it was great to catch up with everyone’s
news. Carly was the only one who was able to join us this time from her
generation so it was a smaller gathering than usual but very, very enjoyable.
Con didn’t feel too good and had to go home during his meal. And we were very
relieved to hear from him when he arrived there. Quite a few of the diners were
suffering a bit from the previous night, which was spent at Cathy’s place. Many
jugs of lemon squash and water were consumed instead of the usual wine and
beer.
Next Family Get Together
Next Family get together is on October 8th.
Graham has kindly offered his house as the venue for a BBQ.
Con Collins
Con Collins is the Ground Zero man for this website.
Con’s news is all under
Judy’s report in Cabrera News further down the newsletter.
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)
Carly
Carly recently started
a new job with a large fitness chain with 10 gyms across Melbourne. In her
first month, she came third highest in sales across the whole company. The top 10 will take part in “Top Guns”
which is a course in advanced sales techniques.
Brenton
Brenton has made it
into the last 40 of state selection in Pool.
Wade
Wade is hoping to work
at the Motor Cycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island. He says, “My team is going
great. We are called Aquinas Old Collegians and play in the VAFA. We are 2nd on
the ladder and have beaten the top side twice so things are looking good so
far. I passed all my uni subjects first semester and start second semester this
week which I am looking forward to as always.”
Darcy
Darcy says, “I have
been really busy lately with football, casual work, and school. Nothing too
special has been happening anyway. I will give you a quick run down though.
Last month, during the school holidays, I had a lot of shifts at my casual job
at Target because it was during stocktake and they needed heaps of employees.
It was real hectic and I worked a couple of 10 hour days, but at least the
money made it all worthwhile. School has been absolutely flying. I can't
believe that I only have a few more months until I am out of there forever. My
grades have been pretty good considering the amount of time I have dedicated to
homework, and I am just hoping to keep up this standard until the end of the
year, but still keeping all my other commitments. Football is going great. I
played football for my school Aquinas last term, and as usual, we are very
successful. We have won the last 2 senior premierships in the past 2 years, and
this year, we had the chance to go 3 in a row, which has never been achieved before
at Aquinas. Anyway, we scraped into the Grand Final, and had our chance to
create history, but unfortunately, the opposition was far too strong and we
lost. But Aquinas football was not my main concern anyway. I dedicate myself to
my local team, Knox Falcons much, much more. We are currently sitting pretty in
2nd place on the ladder, only losing 2 games so far this season. We should play
finals, and hopefully make the Grand Final again this year and win ANOTHER
premiership. Personally, I am having probably my best season ever and hopefully
I can keep my form going all year.”
Tyson
Tys is having the
experience of a lifetime, immersed in the World Cup and it’s associated
activities in Germany. Here is a picture of Tys and Kate and friends
proudly wearing the green and gold. See more pics here Keep up to date with all the news posted to his travel blog: http://tyscollins.blogspot.com/
You may have tried to
email Tys via his blog – unsuccessfully! Apologies – my fault. It’s fixed now and emails
will go directly to him from the blog.
The Bill Collins
Family
Bill Collins was the only brother of Con Collins. Kath is Bill’s wife.
Go to Bill Collins
page for more information on this family.
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.
Elise has send some news from her family:
“Well, I know it was a while ago but Rick’s 40th was lots of fun! Us
girls, Jess, Alex and I, did catering which was pretty good as the food was
delicious! We met a few guys there and have become friends with them although
they live a bit far away.
After Rick’s party, Alex Jess and I went
back to Mary’s house and that was at about 3.30am in the morning. Jess had
production the next morning so she went straight to bed but Alex and I stayed
up till 6 in the morning and finally went to sleep. The boys rang me at 7am so
that only gave us an hour sleep and they came about 8.30am for breakfast.
Although I didn’t get much sleep it was an awesome party.
The school holidays were alright …… Mum,
Jess and I went to Mary’s house for 3 days and went ten pin bowling on the
Tuesday. We didn’t have the bumpers up so every second ball of mine rolled into
the gutter when it got half way down. I’ve seen 3 movies. I went to see the The Poseidon Adventure with Dad and
Jess. I went and stayed the night at Judi and Renato’s and we went out for
dinner at a Pizza and Pasta Place and that was nice. Then we went and watched Click and that was really funny. It had
Adam Sandler in it. We also went shopping and bought a few tops. Then I went
out to dinner with them to the Moonee Valley Racecourse and they had some luck
and won some money and Renato was very nice to give some of it to me. And I saw
on the last day of school holidays Superman Returns with Alex at Crown.
We met up in the city and had some lunch at the Crown then watched the movie.
As well as playing netball on Saturday and training Thursday nights, I’ve
decided to also play on Monday nights too.
For the season, every game is played at
9.30pm on Monday nights. Well, only for this season because the time is too
late when I get home, I’m only a fill-in. But my team is 1st on the
ladder and in about four weeks there will be finals so my coach wants me to qualify
before it’s too late. Jess and I have started ballroom dancing. The first
lesson is free so we gave it a shot. It’s a lot of fun but because this is our
first time doing a dance lesson, it can get confusing and a bit tricky! We went
back and had a second lesson and Jess wants to continue it but I’m not sure if
I will.
Well, that’s about it for the Zoch Family
(LOL – most of the news about me!)
Catchya all around ……”
And here are some backstage pictures of
Jess in Belles of St Trinian’s at the Clocktower Centre!
See more backstage pictures of Jessica here.
The Cabrera Family
Judith
Collins is the second girl in the Con and Bridget Collins Family. She is married
to Renato Cabrera. Go to the Cabrera
Family page.
Judy and Renato send news from Whitby
Street: “We had Elise (Judy's god-daughter) over for a Saturday Night at
the end of June. We went out for dinner then off to the movies, then on the
Sunday we shopped till we dropped at Highpoint and then met Grandpa (Con) at
Moonee Valley for tea. Moonee Valley is becoming the place to be lately. The weekend before that we had a bit of a
raging night there with Cathy and a couple of weeks after that went back there
again for tea with Dad (Con).
Early July we ventured off to an
interesting night held by those partying Chileans. It was the final of a Chilean
song festival, with stage performers and entertainment, all in Spanish of
course, except for one contestant who sang "Let's twist again” - In
English. The theme was sixties music and songs and after the competing was
over, it was time for dancing.
We went to see Fiddler on the Roof our
seats where great smack bang in the middle, ten rows from the front. (Judy
can't stop singing If I were a Rich Man). We tried a new Italian
restaurant in Lygon street called Il Caretto, which was very affordable and very
nice. On that same weekend we went over to Cathy's who was having a bit of a
get together with her long time friends and don't ask me how or why, but we got
home from there at 6.30am in the morning!!!!!!! Those of you who went to the
last family gathering at the Quarry will have seen me feeling and looking a bit
worse for where, but we had a great time and a lot of laughs.
Then there was another Chilean function
held to raise money for the Soccer Club, needless to say lots of food, wine and
dancing. (I, Judy, am getting too old for all of this, it's fun while you are
doing it, but the late nights are a struggle for the next couple of days).
Bear has been in Lort Smith Hospital
for 2 nights. He had to be put under anesthetic and be given a large enema.
What had happened was bones he had eaten did not digest and became little bits
of sharp bone all compacted in his pooh and he could not pass it. We have
been giving Bear bones almost daily or at least 3 times weekly since we have
had him (6 years). The vet said he was unlucky because they do get a lot of
dogs come in with this same problem, and given that Bear is getting older now
and his system does not work as good at it did when he was younger, they have
told us “no small bones”. If any, only large marrow bones and Pig Ears
and stuff like that. So beware dog owners. Bear is back on track
now and all the trauma is over.
Mum (Sue -Bridget) went through a pretty
bad stage, she had quite a few falls and was just sitting and really quite
unresponsive and not wanting to move around much. Judy was so worried about her
that she called the Priest for an anointing of the sick. The doctor
arranged for a great load of blood test and one came back showing mum was
anemic, her iron level was very low, hence the lethargy, falls and sleepiness.
They recommended a once a week iron injection, for a course of 5 weeks and
low and behold not long after the 1st shot, she was all sparked up and raring
to go and she has been so well since then and really quite alert. Mum is
one of the first residents at Gregory Lodge to have a new bed. It is one of
those fancy beds that can be lowered to floor level so there is no risk of
falling onto the floor should she try to get out of bed. I would not mind one
of these beds for myself (especially after a late night, you could just roll
into and out of bed, Ha!Ha!) The remote control positions the bed in any
sharp or angle that you want.
Last but not least Dad (Con) has had the
all clear from his bladder specialist for the next 4 months, there is a bit of
redness there that needs to have an eye kept on it. On the other hand, dad is
having a bit of the same trouble as Bear and is wondering if the Lort Smith
hospital can do anything for him.
A very good friend of Dad's and Uncle
Bill's. Owen Whelan (one of the Whelan the Wreckers brothers) passed away
during July. Unfortunately Con could not make it to the funeral because
it was all the way down at Portsea. Dad feels a bit like a celebrity, one
of his Grandchildren Jessica is making a documentary on
him, so she came over and filmed him and asked a lots of questions about his
part in World War 2. She is now writing a book on the same subject. So if
anyone wants an autograph!!!! Winter and outdoor bowls in Melbourne is a bit
slow, wet and cold but Con is still out there playing twice a week.
The McManus Family
Helen McManus, nee Lennon, was Bridget Collins’ (nee Lennon) eldest sister. She married Patrick McManus and they had four children – Margaret, Kevin, Brian, Patricia and Gerard. Click here for more information on the McManus Family.
Kevin says, “News has been scant from this
side of Melbourne, with busy work commitments and three kids at uni not
forgetting the occasional German and Japanese tourist.
Beate and I have just returned from
Launceston and met up with cousin Joan (McManus).
Today, I received Irish Citizenship through Grandma Lennon. Ireland is one of the few countries which grant the same to grandchilden of Irish born. It has taken six months but it has it's benefits. Fortunately one is able to retain Australian citizenship as a duel citizen.
Mark Deacon (from Queensland) was
recently in Melbourne to attend a yachting regatta. The young enjoy a lifestyle
today which we can only dream about.
The Teres Family
Paul Teres is partner to Barbara Collins,
daughter of Con Collins. Go to Teres Family
page.
Lisa is moving to Brisbane. She has a new job that she will be taking up
at the end of the month. She and Paul drove up on Monday and Paul will stay
there for a couple of weeks before flying back to Melbourne. The Teres family
got together on the Saturday before the trip and here are some pictures from
that day.
Barb has made ‘President’s Club’ in Avon and will be attending a special
dinner for President Club members in mid August. She has ALMOST got her wedding
outfit finalised and Judi, with her eye for fashion, will be helping her
‘tweak’ it.
Barb and Paul were invited to dinner at Andrew and Sophie’s during the
month and Sophie cooked up a delicious minestrone soup and some yummy calamari.
Baby Josh entertained up with his antics – as did Max
Pauline is biding her time in Brisbane until a place becomes available
at the Ukrainian hostel in Melbourne. Paul will be assisting her with packing
and other moving-house-tasks in his time up there.
Now that Barb uses the digital camera so much, Paul’s ‘hard copy’ camera
is very rarely used. So when he had the last lot developed, he found some
pictures on it that he would like to share
- including the last pictures he took of his Dad, Wasyl, on his 97th
birthday not long before he passed away.
Click here for
more Teres family pics.
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Written by Elise Zoch, September 04
