Elizabeth's Church pagesBack Home, List of pages |
| ||||||
Wentworth Library have some archive materials about Thomas Hill Goodwin and
John Bulmer, and these papers were used to provide a very interesting supporting display - we thank their Librarians.Archdeacon Tett was guest speaker for our Re-enactment after we shared a picnic lunch under the trees that may have stood listening to the Aboriginal children as they enjoyed their lessons in the sunshine. Bullocks to pull the wagon are in short supply - so two grey cart horses were the stand-ins, just as our members dressed up to play the parts of Thomas and John, Squatter Crozier and the local sheep shearers of the original Welcomers. | ||||||
What does God require of us? | ||||||
The Yelta StoryMeetings were held in Melbourne in 1853-4 to try to help the Aboriginal people, who were recognised as being badly treated and unable to cope with the white settlers.The Church of England society called the Church of England Mission to the Aborigines, decided to try to help the aborigines who were already suffering from the intrusion of whites into their lands. On 13 Sept 1854 Thomas Hill Goodwin set out to investigate possible sites for a mission, and when he returned on 14 Dec 1854 he recommended Yelta, in Victoria and opposite the conjunction of the Murray and Darling Rivers. Early 1855 the Government of NSW (which still included the area later called Victoria) gave a square mile (640 acres or 256 hectares) grant near the Billabong called Yelta, and in the property selected by Messrs Rutherford and Crozier. Yelta had been chosen as the place for a Mission because it was on an area where the aborigines met as they followed their cycle of nomadic life. Thomas learned the language of the first tribe he met, but was disconcerted that the following tribe had a different dialect. They were welcomed at Yelta on 3 August 1855. Supplies were stored and a vegetable garden was soon fenced and equipped with a windmill for irrigation. Handmade bricks were used to build a dwelling house, store-room and a school-room. Thomas Goodwin also had an extensive ministry with the surrounding settlers, and was especially welcomed at Shearing time, when the itinerant teams of shearers were pleased to have the services of the missioner. In 1856 Victoria and New South Wales became separate states. One result was the setting up of the Swan Hill Police District, and the Cowana Bend Police Station was a mobile affair, being where-ever their tents were erected until in 1881 the Police Troopers, Customs Officers and Stock Inspector gained a base at the new township of Yelta. Yelta is later mentioned as the location of the Police station. This was before the township of Mildura was developed. On 26 August 1861 the Court of Petty Sessions included Sgt George Pick, with Justices of the peace Hugh Jamieson of Mildura Station, Thomas Hill Goodwin of Yelta, John Crozier of Kulnine Station, and Robert Sheridan was Inspector of Sheep. The sheep disease 'scab' was a serious problem finally eradicated in the 1880s. In October 1864 Victoria decided to open riverine Customs offices, and T D Gordon was the new appointee. In 1862 Mr Goodwin was ordained, in 1864 he married Miss Letitia Goring Pennefather, and two children John Thomas Hill 1866 and Letitia Sarah Marian 1867 were born before the aborigines, the Church Missionary Society and The Rev'd Goodwin, made a mutual decision in 1868 to close Yelta. Anglicans in Wentworth were visited by Bishop Thomas in 1864, 68, 70 and 76. Bishop Linton installed The Rev'd Jacob Verso as Rector of Wentworth in April 1885. The name Goodwin was chosen by one aborigine who became a well known identity in Wentworth, thus keeping alive the respect the Yelta mission earned during the 14 years it was open. The Rev'd Goodwin held the parishes at Bacchus Marsh, Gisborne and Heathcote before being appointed Chaplain of the Melbourne General Cemetery. He learned Braille and was appointed a Life Governor of the Institute for the Blind in recognition of his work transcribing over 120 volumes. From Aboriginal Mission Stations in Victoria, by Aldo Massola, first published 1970
Thomas Hill Goodwin born 1 Dec 1824 arrived on 15 Sep 1852 and wife died 22 July 1853
They left Melb with dray, 2 horses and supplies for 3 months. The area had been selected by families with flocks of sheep - which were subject to serious health problems so a Sheep Inspector was one of the early Government officials in the area. Remember this was the first organised contact between Aboriginal and European cultures - Endeavours by missionaries were mainly to teach English and learn the local Aboriginal languages, and teach skills of reading and writing, of growing fruit and vegetables, building huts and other work, for which they paid the Aborigines in food and clothing
Grant for food was allocated by Govt in 1858 but not 1859.
Sheep in area increased, shearing provided good wages, equality with white shearers - up to 40 or 50 sheep a day
For the genealogists among us, some items found at FamilySearch
Mary and Thomas Wagstaff had children Christened at Kidderminster, Worcester, England.
John Goodwin wed 09 Feb 1819 to Sarah Wagstaff at Kidderminster, Worcester, England Marian Elizabeth Baker and Thomas Hill Goodwin, both 27, arrived in Melbourne Sept 1852 on the 'Deborah', and Marian died around the same time as the death early in 1854 of their infant son Napier Clark Hamilton Goodwin aged 7 months. From Ireland News 1864 Marriages - August 18th at Melbourne, Australia, the Rev. Thomas Hill Goodwin, of the Church Mission Station, Yelta, Lower Murray, to Letitia Going, third surviving daughter of Richard Pennefather, Esq., county Tipperary. In 1862 Mr Goodwin was ordained, and in 1864 he wed Miss Letitia Goring Pennefather. Two children were born before the aborigines, the Church Missionary Society and Thomas Goodwin made a mutual decision in 1868 to close Yelta.
Thomas Hill Goodwin's son John Thomas Hill Goodwin born 1866 at Yelta and later Colonel John Goodwin, had a term as Surveyor-General for the Commonwealth, and was the original surveyor of Canberra, where he resided after it was established.
Frank Russell Joseland is a son of Sarah and Alfred Joseland and died 1945 #25736 in Manly New South Wales
Website on Hargraves - Declaring gold. Links | ||||||
|
Graeme and Jane and the boys in Valdivia, Chile 2005 news - the Peters are now in in Concepción, Chile Visit the CMS site for all their Missionaries
|
| |||||