Genealogical &
Historical Society Inc.
No. A17295X
Inaugural Member Society of Genealogical Society of Victoria IncQuarterly Newsletter
Number 64
November 2000
Page 3
1895
Double Marriage at Drummond“The following is a report of the event as published in the Kyneton Guardian”
“The residence of Mr Kenneth McKenzie of Drummond was the scene of a pleasing event yesterday in the shape of a double marriage, the brides being the daughter of the house and Miss Isabella Main, the youngest daughter of Mr John Main, late of Dumbartonshire, Scotland, and the bridegrooms, Mr Geo. R. Main and Mr Joseph Turnbull respectively. The parties are all well known in the neighbourhood; the first named bride was born in the district, and the others have resided there for some years, and all are much respected by friends and neighbours.
The guests began to assemble at an early hour, several coming up from Melbourne by the first train, and by 11 o’clock - the time fixed for the ceremony - the house was well filled. Mr Jas. Park, of Bible carriage renown, tied the double knot speedily and well, and all agreed that it was one of the prettiest weddings they had ever witnessed.
The brides’ dresses were composed of soft pearly gray cashmere and silk and were prettily made, and each wore a gold brooch, which were presents from the bridegrooms. There were four bridesmaids - three wearing cream cashmere - two of the three being cousins of the first-named bride - Miss Gracie Kinross, of Newstead, and Miss Maudie Kinross, of Williamstown, and Miss Daisy Blair, the latter, together with the fourth - Miss Jerrems - who was dressed in navy blue cloth, hailing from Richmond. Miss Blair, being the chief bridesmaid, received a gold brooch in commemoration of the auspicious event.
The bridegrooms were supported - Mr Geo. Main, by his brother, Mr Andrew Main; Mr Turnbull, by Mr Geo. McKenzie, brother of one of the brides.
The brides were given away by their respective fathers. It is needless to say they both looked charming with their flowers, hoose-le’-me-cauds, &c, the whole making a very effective scene.
The bridegrooms each scored the first kiss, but not without a struggle, and amid great showers of rice the registers were signed, after which the guests adjourned for the wedding breakfast. There were three tables, each seating five couples.
These were thrice filled before all were served, the guests waiting upon each other in turns, all being carried on with great humor.Nor must we forget the wedding cake, in which a good deal of culinary prowess was creditably displayed. The weather being propitious, the afternoon was passed in pleasant out-door recreations.
A feature of the day was the taking of the photograph [see below] of the party by Mr Robt. Evans A.P., after which the happy couples departed to spend their honeymoon in the city, the brides wearing charming travelling costumes of navy blue habit cloth, with velvet toques to match.
A large number of guests remained till the evening, amusing themselves and each other with merry games, in which they succeeded so well that the wee sma’ ‘oors o’ the mornin’ saw them wending their way homewards, all agreeing that they had had a thoroughly good time. The presents for each party were numerous, handsome, and useful.”
Marg Scala
Grand-daughter of George Main and Margaret McKenzie.]
The bride was Margaret McKenzie who married George Main, his sister Isabella Main marrying Joseph Turnbull. The Mains and Joseph Turnbull both came from the same area, Cumbernauld, Dumbartonshire, Scotland. Although Margaret signed her name as “Mc” on her wedding certificate, they were usually known as “Mac” The photograph below was taken on the banks of the Back Creek which ran through the property in Pudding Bag Lane, Drummond. This creek was often used by Church of Christ Ministers to Baptise adults into the Faith.
T O O L E Y B U C and N Y A H C E M E T E R I E S
Plea for Assistance
Our Group is aware of the lack of complete Burial Records for these Cemeteries. Circumstances beyond the control of the respective Trustees have obliterated early Records.
In the instance of Tooleybuc, a mouse plague in the 1930’s destroyed the paperwork held in a private home. Over the years, two or three responsible citizens endeavoured to record these Burials. With the assistance of the Wakool Shire Council, the Deniliquin Family History Group indexed the Tooleybuc Cemetery as at July 1987, and the earliest Burial is noted as 31st. March 1969, while the Monumental Inscriptions, of which there are not many, reveal the earliest burial as 25th. May 1878, so there are a lot of gaps in the records
In respect of the Nyah/Nyah West Cemetery, there was a fire which destroyed records, so that the current index starts at 15th. November 1960 to date. Headstones recorded range from 19th April 1887 to 3rd. August 1992.
A plea is made to readers of this Newsletter, that if you have details of any family member and/or friends who may have been buried during those early years, please advise our Research Officer Mrs. Bet Jenvey, PO Box 1232, Swan Hill, Vic., 3585 and/or telephone 5032 9405 if information needs checking.
Necropolis to Scatter Ashes?
The Necropolis, Springvale is endeavouring to contact relatives of some 26,000 people whose ashes can be legally removed from memorial walls and gardens between 2001 - 2005.
During the years 1976 - 1998 cremated remains were interred at the cemetery for a maximum of 25 years. Space constraints and rising maintenance costs could cause tough decisions to be made resulting in re-using wall niches and memorial gardens once the 25 year tenure expires.
Some 5000 letters have been sent to families who had relatives' ashes interred at the cemetery since 1976, but many letters have been returned unopened.
As cremated remains have no legal status in Victoria, they can be removed and disposed of, without authority from relatives if tenure has expired.
The Necropolis is reluctant to act without first contacting families, and urges them to make contact if they want to pay new fees for permanent tenure, or make new arrangements for a relative's ashes.
The Fawkner Cemetery also contains many memorials with cremated remains whose tenure is about to expire, but has no plans to remove any ashes.
Extract from article in the Herald-Sun 8 Oct 2000 titled "Cemetery May Scatter Ashes" by Kate Ashley-Griffiths.
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November 2000Graphics By: Jelane
WebPage by Helen
Updated: 10 November 2000
