I am writing with the hope that someone will be able to help me.
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My family were living in Taree when I came along in 1940, my father was a Master Builder (Thomas Edward Bradwell) and my mother’s name was Hope.
We lived in Stewart Street, Dad built our house and tacked onto the front an area which became a general store of sorts, which my Mother ran, while he worked.
I am writing about my grandfather, William Thomas Howart, who ived in Cundletown at that time. We spent a lot of time with him and I loved him very much.
I was badly burned at 27 months and Grandad was wonderful to/for me, my memories are priceless of the little things he did: building miniature furniture for me, riding on his bicycle from Cundletown to visit me as often as he could.
Sadly time goes on. My memories of your area are wonderful, Taree High (Mr Duncan was our Headmaster) and Taree primary. I have attended one of the reunions which were held yearly, and this has put me back in contact with boys and girls (now ladies/men) I knew then.
Grandad passed away in 1950. I was 10 and can still remember the day, sitting with my Mum, who was an only child and both of us crying over the loss of Gimme, as he was known to me.
He was interred at Dawson River Cemetery. I have recently had our family tree done and it shows Mr S W Bridge took care of the funeral and Mr A T Millbourn did the service.
At that time, I was the youngest of five children and money was very tight, even with Mum's little shop. It helped us get educated, more than that, not a lot.
Money wasn't plentiful and within two years we left the district and moved to Marrickville, NSW. There were more opportunities for Dad to get work there as well.
Nothing had been done about a stone on Grandad's grave and within three to four years (from memory) Mum returned with the necessary funds to have a headstone done, only to find because there hadn't been anything done, she was told someone else would have been buried on top of his remains. I have no idea of their name.
Mum was heartbroken as was I, but there was little we could do.
During the time he died and before we moved, my oldest brother Alan and his wife Edna had their second child, a little girl they named Kerry Lyn, who sadly died at five months. She was what was referred to then as a "blue baby", a beautiful little thing, all babies are when you're 11-12 years old, aren't they?
Same story there: no grave site, yet I have a notice of her death, but no grave site!
I guess the reason for this letter, after checking obviously the council there and a couple of funeral directors who may have inherited paperwork from the ones passed on, is to find out if anyone is still out there who may remember this passage of time and maybe assist?
I guess as we get older we think of these times more, I know I do. They were wonderful years!
Thanks for your time, maybe someone can help me.
I still have rellies in your area, two nephews but they wouldn't know what happened back then, I am sure.