CollinsPlus E-news
Edition 8. December 2007
Editor:
Barbara Collins
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
|
|
|
|
Collins Family News
Go to Collins Family in CollinsPlus
Website
Con Collins
Con Collins is the Ground Zero man for this website.
Boxing Day Golf
Con has decided that the Boxing Day golf tournament should be played at a new golf club and is wanting the players to choose one from the following golf clubs. Please click here to view courses and let Con know your preference as soon as possible!
Remembrance Ceremony at Gregory Lodge
On 28th November, Gregory Lodge held a Remembrance Ceremony to remember all the residents who had passed away during the previous year. During the lovely ceremony, family, friends and carers were invited to come out and place a named decoration on the Christmas Tree. Con added the decoration you see here to the tree on behalf of our family. It was good to catch up with many of the carers who looked after Bridget in her final years and be warmly greeted by them. It was also touching to see that many of the residents who were at the home at the same time as Bridget, were still there. Being there and seeing everyone was quite emotional and Judy and I were glad to have our tissues with us - especially at a time of the year that brings back memories of Bridget’s last days.
Visit to Joan
On Tuesday 4th December, Con and Barb travelled to Geelong to visit Con’s cousin, Joan Collins, and her friend, Christine. We caught up on travel adventures and other news. As usual, Joan was a wealth of information on the Collins family history. Here is a picture of Joan and Con looking at pictures of Joan’s family – including shots of a very young Con and Joan holding hands. Great pictures!
Bridget’s memorial
The family gathered at Bridget’s graveside on Sunday 9th December to remember her on the first anniversary of her passing. We had a short memorial service which you can read here and Judy had written a poem which she read as well. She had the poem laminated so she could leave it at the plaque. You can read the poem here. Barb had prepared a DVD of pictures from Bridget’s life set to some of her favourite music e.g. Oh Danny Boy and Irish Eyes. After the service we went to Con’s place for a pizza afternoon tea.
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)
Tyson
I sold my apartment. I decided to sell as Kate and I are looking to buy and we are looking for something closer into the city and we couldn't afford it with 2 home loans. So I decided to sell and I got a brilliant result at the auction, getting well over my reserve. I was rapt, and definitely made the right choice in selling when I did. I got more out of it than what it's worth so I'm very happy.
I’ve had my second hip operation and was struggling quite for the next few days. Was feeling really sick from the anesthetic, and hardly slept at all that night but lots of painkillers helped to stop the pain and to get me to sleep! But I'm glad it's all done now, just have to recover and get back into it come late January.
Carly
Not too much to update anyway, just about
my new job that I started 2 months ago! I am loving it! I am a PA to two of the
General Managers. I am also the Marketing Assistant, and then I also do all the
admin for the office! It's been going great these past few months - so good
that the Marketing Manager wants me to actually work in the Marketing
Team pretty soon. Now that's the kind of position that you normally need a uni
degree for, but she said they will work something out for me, whether it be
studying while at work, or part time night classes or something, not sure yet.
But it's definitely something to look forward to and a big step up!
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.
Aunty Kath says, “The year has just flown and I prayed for the soul of your Mum at Mass this morning and prayed for all of your family too.
The children are on school holidays and
next year the 3 lads, Matthew, Daniel and Joshua, born in 1990 and Sarah born
in 1991 will all do year 12. Matthew and Daniel both received Awards for
scholastic efforts therefore they and their parents are very happy. Matthew is
now on Learners and since Sarah is 16 she too will obtain hers soon.
Joe turned 80 on November 30th so
Antoinette is now 7 years of age and growing tall and very interested in all sports. Bill would be just delighted with her. Diane is changing schools after a 12 year period and going to a Grammar in ’08.
God bless you all with many blessings this
Christmas.”
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’s 18th
Here is the Zoch family at Jessica’s 18th birthday party. Mum, Cathy, is on her left, and Dad, John, on her right giving a humorous birthday speech. Her sister, Elise, is on the far right and is enjoying the birthday roast too.
Read more about
Jess’ party and see more pictures here.
Jessica’s car
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.
Margaret wrote, “Terry and I
have been weed spotting at the farm, mainly for Patterson's Curse.
At least it is easy to find when in flower with its gorgeous purple blooms.
We have had some lovely rain all yesterday so that will probably send up some more weeds to be found. If you neglect it, you have up to ten years of seed to deal with until it is gone. A very effective weed! We have not planted any trees now for a couple of years due to the drought which has been savage. At least this year our dams are full so our neighbour who leases the farm will not have to cart water to his stock.
The Teres Family
Paul Teres is husband of Barbara Collins,
daughter of Con Collins. Go to Teres Family
page.
Andrew’s 34th birthday
On 1st December we celebrated Andrew’s 34th birthday at his home in Windsor. Here he is with his birthday pavlova!
The Moore Family
Eloise Moore nee Jessett is 2nd
cousin (once removed) on maternal side to Bridget Collins nee Lennon
Eloise is Barb’s second cousin, once removed and they met over the internet – but have not yet met in person!
Eloise recently emailed with a catchup on her young family: “Gary and I welcomed a baby daughter on 18 July 2007 - Scarlett Annette Moore. She weighed 9lb 10oz and was born by emergency Caesar at Northpark due to her size – she refused to come out naturally (after 3 days of inducing 8 days past her due date!!) She has dark black hair and blue eyes. She was named after my mother Annette and Scarlett because we both loved the name.
Jordan is now 2 years 3 months. A very affectionate boy, he has just had grommets put in due to recurrent ear infections and some language delay. He seems to be doing well after the grommets and has started using new words every day. Gary and I are well, the 2 kids are keeping us busy. Not much happening with the extended family. Noreen is going well, we are going to go to Colac for a visit just after Xmas.”
Happy birthday to
Andrew Teres, Carly Collins, Josh Teres in December: Click here for your
birthday card.
If your birthday
falls in December and you are not on this list, email the
editor and send in your birth date.
What’s a wog?
Are you a ‘wog’ or have any ‘wog’ friends. Click here to check the
difference between a Wog and an Aussie!
Wog is a slang term in Australian English, denoting non-Anglo-Saxon Australians, usually people of Southern European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern ancestry. Specifically it implies Italians and Greeks, but also Spaniards, people from the Balkans (Croatians, Bosnians, Serbians, etc.), Portuguese, Maltese, Arabs, Turks, and Iranians. It also often includes Latin Americans grouped together with those of Spanish ancestry. It may occasionally extend to people from other parts of Europe or the Levant. Migrants from the Netherlands sometimes refer to themselves as clog wogs.
This meaning came into popular use in the 1950s
when Australia accepted large numbers of immigrants from Southern Europe.
Although originally used negatively, the term was increasingly used more
affectionately - especially by the individuals the term is used to
describe.
Wog is a word with definite and widespread currency in contemporary Australian English. Although the word is generally believed to be an acronym for Western Oriental Gentleman, or Worthy Oriental Gentleman, Sue Butler, Publisher of the Macquarie Dictionary, says its origin is actually unknown.
Awwwwwwww……………..
Like cute animal pictures? Click here.
Christmas Facts
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 every year honoring
the birth of Jesus Christ. Some churches celebrate it on January 7 due to
following different calendars.
Jesus
is Christianity's central figure. Although the date of his birth has not been
pinpointed most agree that he was born around 64BC in Bethlehem. At the time,
his parents, Mary and Joseph, were on their way to register in the Roman
census. Mary was told by an angel that she was with child as a result of an
immaculate conception*. She gave birth to Jesus while they stopped for rest**.
Jesus spent his
life working as a preacher and healer in Galilee and Judea. He was believed to
be a Messiah who would redeem the world of sin. Roman Prefect Pilate sentenced
him to death by crucifixion. It is believed that he came back to life three
days after his execution confirming the fact that he was the son of God.
Two centuries after his
death, first efforts were made in order to establish the exact date of his
birth and December 25 was chosen, possibly out of convenience.
Today, religious and
commercial festivities vary from region to region. In Australia, USA and
England, Christmas has become the biggest economical holiday of the year - with
people spending weeks before December 25 shopping for presents.
Exchange of presents,
decorating homes with lights, holly and mistletoe, decorating a Christmas tree
and Santa Claus are some of the traditions that apply worldwide.
Santa
Claus, or Father Christmas as he is known in England, is based on a real
person, St. Nicholas, a bishop who lived in 4th century. He was generous and
kind and eager to help the poor and underprivileged.
The
tradition of decorating a Christmas tree originates from Germany but is
nowadays common in most countries. Religious celebrations begin with Advent and
include Midnight mass on Christmas Eve and carol singing.
* Dogma of The Immaculate
Conception. This is the privilege of Our Lady from the moment of her
conception. It is explained herewith:
**The Birth of Jesus on Christmas night is
also a Dogma of Catholic Faith being that Our Lady was a Virgin before and
after the birth. As the conception of Jesus was miraculous so also
was the birth. The Fathers of the Church describe it beautifully as
a ray of sun passes through a crystal without breaking it, likewise the Child
Jesus was born of Mary without loss of Virginity.
For more information on The Immaculate
Conception, click
here to go to an article in the Catholic Weekly.
Thanks to Aunty Kath for the clarifications!
Congratulations this month to ….
ü Tyson for having such a great result on his
first investment property
ü Brenton
on being headhunted back into his old job – with perks
ü
Matthew and Daniel (from Bill Collins family) on both receiving awards for
scholastic efforts
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!