© irene waters 2015
I rarely (this is probably the first time) that I have posted two entries in a challenge. I don’t know why I thought of it. Possibly a combination of a post about prime minister Curtin which made me think of my Grandfather and the Weekly Photo challenge of ornate brought to mind the family heirloom a convert made for my Great Grandfather .
My great -grandfather migrated from Glasgow to Sydney in 1897 arriving on the steamship “Austral.” He started his mission work in the Rocks area of Sydney almost immediately with the Sydney City Mission which had been founded some 35 years earlier based on the model of the London City Mission.
Millers Point and The Rocks in those days had a population of around 112,000 people (almost a 1/4 of the popn of Sydney at the time). The area had more men that women (a result of the sailors that lived in the area) and was a poor, rough and violent area rife with disease, alcoholism and opium dens. After his first day of work he wrote
I cannot express my feelings as I thought of the strange place and a strange people, but looking up to God, the thought flashed into my mind; human nature is the same in Sydney as it is in Glasgow, and so is God. So I made a start determined to take every door.”
He involved himself in the lives of the people, with no care to what religion they may follow. He set up free breakfasts for the people and intervened in domestic disputes. His diaries are a fascinating read (although at times heavy going). He became beloved by one and all, gaining many converts along the way.
The ornate clock tower carved by one of his converts, a seaman who had a bit of time on his hands while he served time in gaol. I can see evidence of this man’s travel in the design of his fretwork carving.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
It is so beautiful and thank you for sharing about your great grandfather.
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Thank you and you’re welcome.
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The man gave your granddad an extraordinary gift. Seamen were often gifted artists, but this is a very unusual piece.
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Very ornate. I had a wonderful story about it but I found out a couple of years ago that I must have put several of the family stories together and made up something that was total fabrication but that seamen must have seen some sights to come up with this.
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This is such a beautiful legacy
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Absolutely
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Wow. To this entire post. The story, the photo, the work that must have gone into that, the quote…
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Thanks Sarah. Its quite something.
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Both are heirlooms, the diary (stories) and the clock tower. Amazing to have some inkling of an ancestors thoughts and feelings.
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Yes it is great. The diaries are held in the State Library of NSW as the information and detail in them is down to the minute . It is a really good social history of the time. I am thinking that might be my next project (if I ever finish the one I’m on) to write something using them.
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What a beautiful, unique and unusual family heirloom, the history behind it and the story of your great-grandfather so intriguing. I love his quote. He sounds like a wonderful man. As we’ve said before, I wonder what would have happened if my great-grandfather had stayed in Australia. Love this post Irene 🙂 ❤
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Thanks Sherri. If he’d stayed you would have been closer to visit that’s for sure. He was a fantastic man and the people in his mission area loved him. For the family he ruled with a rod of iron. He took no argument from anyone and from what I gather they were all a bit scared of him. But he would have had to be like that probably to have the courage to do the things he did.
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Yes, he sounds like a very courageous man indeed. And we can wonder about that can’t we? Fascinating… 🙂
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Absolutely. 🙂
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