Coming Wood family reunions

The weekend will consist of meeting on Saturday afternoon in a local park, having dinner together in the Tumut RSL and reconvening on Sunday for a discussion on family matters and arrangements for the next reunion. Of special interest will be the presentation of William's watch and a copy of his Waterloo medal, and the availability of the 4th edition of In My Name which has been expended considerably over the 3rd edition to over 7,000 names and is now in seven volumes. Check our workshop link to see details of the books.

To register for the reunion, please download the application for by clicking here, filling it in and posting it as described on the form, together with your prepayment. We have incurred considerable expense recently in our research of William's heritage, and donations towards that expense would be greatly appreciated.

Click here to read Jeanne Bow's latest newsletter, mainly relating to the reunion.

Please note that our reunion invitation list is shrinking rapidly due to the progress of generations and people moving house. If you have recently moved, would like to be placed on the list, or know of people who have moved or would want to be on the
list, please enter their postal address by clicking here.

Below is a report on the Tamworth reunion last year organised by Jenny Regan:

About 60 people attended the annual Wood Reunion which was held in Tamworth on the weekend of 26th and 27th March 2011. There were messages of support from those who were unable to attend including Loretta Shackley and Audrey Young-Whitford.

On Saturday afternoon we met in Tamworth’s Bicentennial Park by the statue of the World War I soldier and his horse. Each participant was given a bag of local information, maps to local attractions, a list of church times and a sheet of Quiz questions about the Wood family history. There were Woods descended from five children of William and Ann, including first time visitors from South Australia. Some family members spent time drawing up a family tree of those who signed in, to orient us all. Other family members chatted over the Wood Patty Cakes and a cup of tea. Some boarded a bus which travelled with a local historian, Marlene, who recounted some of Tamworth’s local history.

When we regathered for dinner at 6.30 pm at the Frog and Toad Restaurant a local lad instructed us in the basics of ‘line dancing’ to country music. Some adventurous family members joined him to practice the unfamiliar dance steps on the dance floor while others clapped and watched. After dinner we were entertained with several portions of the Wood family stories. Jeanne Bow and Ian Wood had organised a reproduction of William Wood’s discharge papers for each family that was represented at the gathering as well as coloured copies of Valentines from Aunt Harriet Hudson which were sent from Leeds to Mary Ann and Elizabeth. These were beautifully reproduced and gratefully received by all.

We were interested to hear Marita speak about the details she had gathered about her Wood uncle who had been a consultant doctor to King George V of England the father of the present Queen. At the end of her talk Marita circulated several items of memorabilia including the award he received from the King recognising his work and a delicate gold surgical instrument. Ian Wood spoke about the details he has discovered about William Wood’s service in the British army at the time of Napoleon. We are fortunate that our family stories and history are being collected and recorded so thoroughly by our cousins and we thank them for it. Family members enjoyed speaking with cousins and friends they had not met or seen for many years. The talking continued into the night long after the tables were cleared. Next day we all met in the beautiful Anzac Park and gathered in the nearby Bowling Club to discuss ‘Wood Family Business’. Many had long journeys to return home and were away before lunch after happy reconnecting.

See you in Tumut on March 31st for the 38th anniversary. Jenny Regan