Descendants of Tenterfield pioneers Isaac and Edward Whereat will make the journey to gather in Tenterfield on the weekend of 12, 13 and 14 May 2017, to remember their wonderful contribution to Australian history and celebrate the strong family that is their legacy.
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Next year will mark 100 years since the passing of Isaac Whereat. Isaac and his brother Edward who were early settlers in Tenterfield having emigrated from England in the mid 1800s.
Both were very active in civic affairs serving terms as mayor. Edward was instrumental in Australia's journey to federation, giving up his safe seat in the NSW Parliament to make way for Henry Parkes to re-enter politics, enabling Parkes’ famous Call to Federation speech made at the Tenterfield School of Arts.
Many Whereat family members were invited and visited Tenterfield during the centenary of Federation celebrations held in 2001.
Celebrations are planned throughout the reunion weekend, including a town tour, visit to the School of Arts, Salisbury House and other sites of family and historical significance. The weekend will culminate in a family reunion dinner where local Tenterfield historian Ken Halliday will be a guest presenter.
Family members will travel from across Australia. Special guests from England will include Paul and Carol Whereat of Cirencester, and Christine Davis and Clare Whereat of Bath. The Whereat family originated from Bath and surrounds in England.
"Clare Whereat is an avid family historian and will share a recent breakthrough with regard to the origins of the Whereat line back to the 1400's .....it's a great story full of unexpected surprises," Isaac Whereat’s great grandson Terry Behan said.
The Whereat cousins in Queensland have maintained strong ties over the years, gathering annually or biennially, starting from a small group and now attended by 70 or more cousins across multiple generations.
Helen Fox, great granddaughter of Isaac Whereat and one of the early instigators of the annual family gatherings, is eagerly looking forward to the return to Tenterfield in 2017.
"From little things, big things grow," she said.
This gathering in 2017 promises to be extra special for the Whereat family descendants with a return to the place of the family’s beginnings in Australia, but also promising to bring together a broader group of family members, including cousins from England.
Any inquiries regarding the weekend can be directed to Terry Behan at terry.behan@optusnet.com.au
