Reunion draws a crowd

By Jemma Jones

Mar 31, 2025

A gathering in the Merrigum Mechanical Institute had distant family members sharing stories. Photo by Contributed

What began as a hopeful invitation for a family reunion blossomed into a heartwarming gathering of over 120 relatives, sharing cherished family stories.

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In January this year, a letter to the editor ran in the Free Press by Jennifer Manley, asking for her relatives in Merrigum to attend a family reunion on Sunday, March 9.

Mrs Manley, the organiser of this reunion, said 70 guests had originally responded to her call-out for distant relatives.

To everyone's delight, on the day, 121 relatives from the Adams, Manley, Robinson, Abrahamson and Gorman families gathered at the Merrigum Mechanics Institute.

“It was a fabulous celebration and sharing of family stories and gathering of photographs and memorabilia,” she said.

“I was able to get more data and detail for my family genogram and information for the family story I am writing.”

The eldest relative was Max Matthews from Bendigo, and two-year-old River from Cranbourne was the youngest.

Mrs Manley was touched that interstate relatives made the special journey to attend, while overseas family members sent heartfelt messages to be part of the occasion.