Wow! The RSVP’s are arriving thick and fast! As of tonight, we have 249 booked. Also please remember to bring a chair if you can. (Better not mark it “Watt”!)
Below are some specifics to help you plan.:
SATURDAY, MAY 9TH
10:30- Registration opens for Watt Family Reunion at Woodbine
Time to chat, have some refreshment, look at the Watt Family museum before joining the bus tour of significant Watt family sites. Please note: the catering stand opens at 12:00 on Saturday. All meals, drinks and snacks may be purchased there for the duration of the reunion.
1:00 Bus departs Woodbine
1:10 Gringegalgona Homestead (Not Disembarking the bus)
1:20 Brown Town Cairn (Not Disembarking the bus)
1:40 Rockbank
2:20- Yarramyljup School site & Official unveiling of the School memorial by the Southern Grampians Mayor. Tree planting by representatives of the Watt, Smith and Woodford families.
3:30- Balmoral Cemetery
4:30- Return to Woodbine
Time to chat, grab some refreshments at the catering stand and look at the Watt Family museum before the evening bonfire and informal music night.
5:00- Bonfire Gathering, Bring your instruments and be ready to play and sing.
SUNDAY, MAY 10TH
9:00- Mass at St. Patrick’s Balmoral
10:30- Registration opens at Woodbine, where all Sunday events will be held.
Time to chat, grab some refreshment at the catering stand and look at the Watt Family displays.
12:00 Group Photo
1:00 Official Opening! Surprise Arrivals. Cake cutting & other fun.
Warning: Please note that Woodbine is a working farm. We are delighted to host the reunion and will take every care to make things safe, but please be aware that there are hazards eg. Grain silos and fuel tanks with ladders, dams (mostly empty) , landings and various agricultural machinery.
See you at the Reunion,
Gerard and Sabrina Watt
Your comments here
Email Patrick Watt HERE to post your comment.
Anne (Watt) Mibus
Dear descendants of John and Martha who had ANYTHING to do with the organising of the WATT REUNION.
What a magnificent weekend it was!
It far exceeded any expectations that I had.
I am also writing on behalf of Stan Seliga who has been with me for 25 years and who is indeed proud of his connection to this amazing family as exemplified by the weekend of the reunion. (He has after all, only two sisters and no other relatives in this world!) He was completely overwhelmed and we did not stop debriefing the weekend until we boarded the plane back to Brisbane late on Monday evening!
From the moment we drove into Woodbine (with Bernice and Paul O'Toole) until we reluctantly left late Sunday afternoon we were captured by the experience.
Everything had been thought of, and there was no stone left unturned, to make this one of the most memorable weekends of my life.
The organisation was astounding.
Our only regret was that it was not a week instead of a weekend...there were so many people we did not get to catch up with.
However, for those that I was able to make a long lost connection , in most cases, for only a short time, it was so affirming and gratifying and never have I felt such a deep sense of family.
Nancy could not wait to see our photos and she was captivated by the scale of the weekend and with those that made such efforts to be part of it.
Her exclamations about the pageant and the likenesses to John and Martha's children in particular were profound.
She truly would have loved to have been there.
David, Marlene, Genevieve and Peter couldn't wait to hear the report of the weekend and I have increased Telstra profits enormously since we returned!
My staff at work wanted me to tell them what I had been doing in Victoria, so I took up a whole meeting to sketch the highlights. They kept exclaiming about the organisation of the reunion. Four of them have since told me that they will try to get their families together as they could see the importance of the experience from what I told them.
As we go further into recession there may even be an opportunity for a Reunion Business, likened to Wedding Planners, that some of you may venture into!
I don't want to single out any part of the weekend to comment on the organisation. I really think that all of the events and organisation from the parking attendants to the Oscar performances were commendable.
I hope that there is a DVD that captures it all somewhere in the making. Suffice to say that my photos will sustain me.
My heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of you.
I am so proud of being part of this truly amazing family.
May we all continue to foster and keep alive the values of John and Martha and all of those who have gone before us.
Anne (Watt) Mibus
Jeanette Watt/ Smith said…
Congratulations to ALL from Woodbine, Bryan and Patricia and anyone else involved in the organization of the wonderful reunion. I was so pleased to be part of it and so PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CLAN. The “oldies” would have been tickled pink with the whole program and turnout of “their” people. Thank you for providing us all with such a wonderful opportunity.
Jeanette Watt/ Smith
Bryan Watt said…
Dear Family, well I have recovered sufficiently from the celebrations of last weekend to get around to thanking you all for attending my 150th birthday celebrations last weekend.
The greatest present I could [and did] receive was to see you there meeting new relatives, and renewing connections with others. Sorry I didn't speak to you all.
I must say a special thanks to the extended " Woodbine" Watts for their very professional organization, well done.
See you at the next one.
Kindest regards
John Watt----alias Bryan.
Loges said...
Well done on a fantastic job to all the organisers. Unfortunately I was unable to attend, but my mother and father (Rosina and David Logan) had a very memorable experience. Well done to all the organisers. - Chris Logan (London)
May 13, 2009 6:00 AM
Kathleen Moran said...
John and Martha would be so proud of their descendants (a cast of hundreds) who pulled together to mark this special occasion with a reunion. These things don't happen without enthusiasm, hours and hours of work by many, many people, creativity, and cooperation. Even the weather was beautifully planned. I was delighted to be present and I thank all those who were responsible for the memorable event. Thank you for the invitation. Kathleen Moran Ballarat
Nette said...
What a fabulous Weekend - a tribute to the family!I have loaded photos on my Facebook and added a Watt Family Reunion Group.Thanks for a great time.
* * * * * * * * * *
Anne (Watt) Mibus
Dear descendants of John and Martha who had ANYTHING to do with the organising of the WATT REUNION.
What a magnificent weekend it was!
It far exceeded any expectations that I had.
I am also writing on behalf of Stan Seliga who has been with me for 25 years and who is indeed proud of his connection to this amazing family as exemplified by the weekend of the reunion. (He has after all, only two sisters and no other relatives in this world!) He was completely overwhelmed and we did not stop debriefing the weekend until we boarded the plane back to Brisbane late on Monday evening!
From the moment we drove into Woodbine (with Bernice and Paul O'Toole) until we reluctantly left late Sunday afternoon we were captured by the experience.
Everything had been thought of, and there was no stone left unturned, to make this one of the most memorable weekends of my life.
The organisation was astounding.
Our only regret was that it was not a week instead of a weekend...there were so many people we did not get to catch up with.
However, for those that I was able to make a long lost connection , in most cases, for only a short time, it was so affirming and gratifying and never have I felt such a deep sense of family.
Nancy could not wait to see our photos and she was captivated by the scale of the weekend and with those that made such efforts to be part of it.
Her exclamations about the pageant and the likenesses to John and Martha's children in particular were profound.
She truly would have loved to have been there.
David, Marlene, Genevieve and Peter couldn't wait to hear the report of the weekend and I have increased Telstra profits enormously since we returned!
My staff at work wanted me to tell them what I had been doing in Victoria, so I took up a whole meeting to sketch the highlights. They kept exclaiming about the organisation of the reunion. Four of them have since told me that they will try to get their families together as they could see the importance of the experience from what I told them.
As we go further into recession there may even be an opportunity for a Reunion Business, likened to Wedding Planners, that some of you may venture into!
I don't want to single out any part of the weekend to comment on the organisation. I really think that all of the events and organisation from the parking attendants to the Oscar performances were commendable.
I hope that there is a DVD that captures it all somewhere in the making. Suffice to say that my photos will sustain me.
My heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of you.
I am so proud of being part of this truly amazing family.
May we all continue to foster and keep alive the values of John and Martha and all of those who have gone before us.
Anne (Watt) Mibus
Jeanette Watt/ Smith said…
Congratulations to ALL from Woodbine, Bryan and Patricia and anyone else involved in the organization of the wonderful reunion. I was so pleased to be part of it and so PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CLAN. The “oldies” would have been tickled pink with the whole program and turnout of “their” people. Thank you for providing us all with such a wonderful opportunity.
Jeanette Watt/ Smith
Bryan Watt said…
Dear Family, well I have recovered sufficiently from the celebrations of last weekend to get around to thanking you all for attending my 150th birthday celebrations last weekend.
The greatest present I could [and did] receive was to see you there meeting new relatives, and renewing connections with others. Sorry I didn't speak to you all.
I must say a special thanks to the extended " Woodbine" Watts for their very professional organization, well done.
See you at the next one.
Kindest regards
John Watt----alias Bryan.
Loges said...
Well done on a fantastic job to all the organisers. Unfortunately I was unable to attend, but my mother and father (Rosina and David Logan) had a very memorable experience. Well done to all the organisers. - Chris Logan (London)
May 13, 2009 6:00 AM
Kathleen Moran said...
John and Martha would be so proud of their descendants (a cast of hundreds) who pulled together to mark this special occasion with a reunion. These things don't happen without enthusiasm, hours and hours of work by many, many people, creativity, and cooperation. Even the weather was beautifully planned. I was delighted to be present and I thank all those who were responsible for the memorable event. Thank you for the invitation. Kathleen Moran Ballarat
Nette said...
What a fabulous Weekend - a tribute to the family!I have loaded photos on my Facebook and added a Watt Family Reunion Group.Thanks for a great time.
* * * * * * * * * *
John & Martha Watt
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