After reflecting on naughty ancestors in the last 52 Weeks post, this time I'm reflecting on the nice. The 'Nice' ancestors frequently receive less publicity than their 'Naughty' counterparts, going about their lives quietly and without fuss. Frequently they leave fewer records behind them to detail their lives than those who were 'naughty' - no court records, no prison sentences, fewer articles in the newspapers covering their deeds. Sometimes finding their footprints in history can be considerably harder, with their deeds not trumpeted to the world.
One such unsung ancestor was my great-uncle David James Clark. It was only a few years ago, well after his death, that I discovered he was quite devoted to public service and volunteering, and in 1979 he was awarded an Order of Australia for his community service.
After service in the militia between the wars and in the army during World War 2, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, David returned to Melbourne and lived out his life in Brighton and Cheltenham. He became heavily involved in volunteer work, especially after his retirement, and was notably devoted to his former school, Brighton Primary.
An unsung hero indeed.
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