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| Joachim Newsletter |
| Edition; 15 Date; September 2007
Dear Family Items in this Newsletter ; MIRIAM AMELIA (MATILDA) AND REBECCA JOACHIM Dear family members, The majority of us are the descendants of Joseph, Maurice, George, Susan and Sarah Joachim. We know their birth dates, their resting places, their occupations, partners’ details, their likes and dislikes and if we are lucky we hold tangible mementos of their lives. But who are the guardians of these details for Miriam (Matilda) and Rebecca? It is time that all the family rallied and put pen to paper, dug out photographs of these ladies and searched their minds and hearts to build a portrait of each lady, so that they will live on along side their siblings for feature generations to know, understand and respect. Of the many pictures taken by my immediate family this is the only picture we possess of the four sisters together. We have one other picture of Rebecca, what an indictment! What do I know about Miriam? She was my Grandmother’s eldest sister (who married Abraham Jacob Bloom). For some unknown reason Miriam called herself Matilda. Miriam Amelia Joachim was born on 28th May 1870 in Port MacDonnell, South Australia. Her parents were Abraham Joachim and Reyna (nee Ottolangui). Matilda and family were back in Melbourne by the time of her brother Maurice’s birth on 13th February 1872. Matilda resided at 117 Wellington Street, St Kilda for some time. I believe this may have been a boarding house that she may have operated. In 1922, then aged 52 Matilda married widower Abraham Jacob Bloom at 4 Crimea Street, St Kilda. Matilda resided at this address until her death on 28 August 1952. What do I know about Rebecca? She was born in Prahran in 1879 and died on 11 January 1949. I believe that she may have resided with Matilda for some time and that she may have worked for her brother Joseph for a period of time. My Father used to say that Becky was a fiddler, something that was a great topic within the family. At a family gathering held at my Grandparents, Joseph and Sarah’s home, a little box was placed beside a couch. The family waited and watched until Becky could not restrain herself, she opened the box, which released the Jack in-Box; she received such a fright, that legend has it; Becky was cured of her fiddling. It is a sad to think that this is all I know about a relative who lived for 70 years. Do any of you know where the girls were schooled, what were their hobbies and interests, where did they live and work, what were the like, do you have any photographs or documents relating to Matilda and Rebecca? There is rarely any response to articles that appear in the family newsletter. Please make this an exception and all of you make an effort to put pen to paper, let’s put flesh on these ladies bones and celebrate their lives by returning them to their rightful place as fully fledge, important members of a special family. Jenny Cowen P.S. If you can shed some light on the mystery as to why our family were residing in Port MacDonnell, South Australia at the time of Miriam (Matilda’s) birth it would be much appreciated. Ø Please pass this newsletter onto any family member I may not have emailed and if they are willing, please pass on their email address to me so that they can receive all newsletters. Ø Lastly, please Family, write an article for the newsletter. Katrina |
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| The Joachim Sisters (the two sisters with the hats on are Miriam (in the background) and Rebecca (on far right). |