And That's My Family Story
And that's my family story!
Did you know that Jells Park Primary School has over 300 different and unique family stories to tell? We’d like to give you the chance to tell your family story and share it with the school community. If you choose to share your story it will be placed in the newsletter and some might even be shared at an assembly. Your family story might include history about your ancestors or it might be more recent significant events. You might like to tell us about your background, religion, family customs or special memories.
You can write or type your family story but please try to keep it to under 350 words so we can fit lots of stories in the newsletter. Siblings may write their story together. Stories can be handed to, or emailed to, Miss McLeod (m.mcleod@jpps.vic.edu.au)
We look forward to learning more about the stories that make up our community. Below are two examples of family stories to help you get a feel for the project.
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My father’s ancestors came to Australia from Scotland in 1857, they came under the Distressed Lands Resettlement Scheme, which basically meant that living conditions in Scotland were pretty bad so they came to Australia for a new and better life. Over the years each generation has moved around NSW and generally worked as farmers. My Grandparents lived in two little towns called Black Mountain & Guyra in NSW. Both sets of my grandparents were farmers and I have fond memories of my family driving up to visit them every two or three years over summer. My two older sisters and I would enjoy feeding chickens and collecting eggs, playing in the shearing sheds and learning how to drive the tractor. One of my grandfather’s also owned the local supermarket and I remember feeling very important when we would visit him in his office. My parents were married in 1975 and moved to Melbourne with my two sisters in 1978 when my dad began working at the Herald Sun, I was born a couple of years later in 1981- I am the only member of my entire family to be born in Victoria. Since our family is all interstate most Christmases and Birthdays were just the five of us and a special meal but over the years it has grown to include my brother in law and my niece and nephew. Earlier this year I got a chance to visit Scotland and although I didn’t visit the exact city my family is from it felt good to be in my ancestor’s homeland.
My name is Miss McLeod and that’s my family story
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My parents are both born in Australia and grew up in the Oakleigh and Noble Park area.
When my Mum was pregnant with me she and Dad moved to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea where I was born (a long time ago). Dad was working in the Postal Service. At the time, Papua New Guinea was an Australian Territory similar to the Northern Territory or ACT now. One of my sisters was also born in Papua New Guinea, before we moved back to Lilydale to live. My youngest sister was born in Lilydale hospital.
I went to Primary School at Lilydale West Primary School until the end of Grade 4 and one of my best friends was Fraser Brown who played in a premiership for Carlton. At the beginning of Grade 5 my family moved to Numurkah to live which is in the country between Shepparton and the Murray River. I used to say it was very close to Naringaninganingalook. I went to Numurkah Secondary College and completed my HSC in 1988. (yes I am that old. I didn’t even have computers to use when I went to school)
I moved to Melbourne to go to University at RMIT in the city. I studied a degree in Medical Radiations and qualified as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, working in a Radiology department. For 2 years I worked at the Austin Hospital and then for 14 years I worked for private radiology groups mostly at Maroondah and Knox Hospitals.
I met my wife Lisa in 1990 while performing in a musical called ‘Friends Forever’. We married in 1994 and had our first daughter (Jess) in 1998 and our 2nd daughter (Keely) was born in 2000.
In 2007 I became a chaplain at Templeton Primary School and I worked in a local church and I also completed a Graduate certificate in Sports Management.
In 2013 I completed a Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching and then started working at Ferntree Gully North PS. I moved to Jells Park PS in 2015.
My name is Mr Jenkins and that’s my family story