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Foreword & Acknowledgements.
My hobby is compiling Family Histories which in some way are linked to my own family, often somewhat tenuously. In this instance that is not so, as this history is my Mum's direct ancestry. Whilst I have collated & prepared this Family History I want to emphasis that I played little part in researching, gathering, compiling & writing the various histories. For this arduous task, thanks must go to the original biographers & their helpers. In particular thanks must go to my cousins Geoff Cook (Melbourne) and Richard Cook & his partner - John Howie from Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, who have painstakenly researched the early history of the Cook family & have kindly shared their findings with me - thanks Geoff, John & Richard. On the following pages is a brief history of our family. Whilst my master database contains nearly 2400 names covering several 'family groups' I have only relatively limited data on our family, particulary 'current' generations, hence the sparseness of some details in this area of our family history’. If you can provide me with additional names & information it will be most helpful & enable me to fill in some of the many missing details. Once done I can then send you an up-dated version.
Initially the best way to start is to examine the family tree or personal 'pedigree' chart incorporated in the following history & add names of parents, grand-parents & further back if you have the detail then come back to your position on the tree & add in names of spouses/partners, children including step children etc, grand - children, great grand-children, your own & your spouses siblings & their partners/spouses and their children etc. The list quickly grows! With each name add in place & birth/death dates; marriage/meeting dates & place etc. Where known/available provide any additionl/historical information known of the individual. It doesn’t matter how the information is provided - just scribble it down on a piece of paper or on the family tree chart & fax/mail it to me or if easier Email or ‘phone me.
No doubt there are errors & omissions in the following pages and for this I apologise. I hope that they are not many but in any event I hope that the reader gets some enjoyment from these gathered 'family histories' & the various details surrounding the various individuals. I have enjoyed compiling these histories & can only marvel at the 'times' & 'experiences' of all our forebears. When one stops & considers their circumstances & the times in which they lived, then I can only admire their courage, fortitude & endeavours. Each & everyone of them has contributed to our great Nation & the great lifestyle & prosperity we all enjoy today. As I grow older, & hopefully a little wiser, I can only admire their hardships, great efforts and contribution to our own prosperity.
Phil Garbutt 14/9/2006
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