#52Ancestors - Week 13 - Sisters

The theme for Week 13 is Sisters, and I'm focusing on my father's six sisters, Isobel, Phyllis, Jess, Olive, Nancy and Marjory.  Born in the Mildura area between 1912 and 1928, the six girls (and their four brothers) grew up on farms around Victoria.

Their parents, Frank and Rosa, were both born in England, and emigrated to Australia shortly after their marriage in 1907.  The couple chose to leave their families behind and, like so many before them, take their chances on a new life in Australia.  All six sisters married and raised families of their own, a total of 18 children scattered around the state.

Given the spread of ages, getting all six sisters together for a photograph was something of a challenge.  While I have a number of photos of the sisters singly or in smaller groups, the image above is the only one I have of all of them.  It was taken in 1965, while the family gathered for their mother Rosa's funeral.  The photos show, left to right, Isobel, Nancy, Olive, Phyllis, Jess and Marjory.

Taken the same day is the only photo I have ever seen of all ten siblings together, gathered around their father.  A truly precious, if slightly blurry, image of my father's family all gathered together.  And yes, brother Ernie does indeed have a beer bottle balanced on his head!