ALAN and David Maclean followed through on an aspiration to pass through Ararat as part of a well planned trip in October.
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The visit to pay homage to their ancestors came 35 years after their last visit to the town.
The trip, which was about ten days duration involved the duo following the south eastern coast and a wide loop through south-west NSW.
Father and son visited Eden, Marlo, Port Albert, Tooradin, Torquay, Apollo Bay, Warrnambool, Ararat, Jerilderie, Lake Cargelligo, Mineral Hill (Condobolin), Forbes, Blayney and Sydney.
Alan said he and David passed through some delightful country in Victoria.
"Ararat has certainly changed since I was last there. I was impressed with how the grapevines softens the streetscape," he said.
"To me, it's a shame that many young Australians only want to travel to Asia - Bali for example and haven't even seen a tiny fraction of their own country.
"All in all, a trip of some 3,900 km, enjoying the beauty and wonder of Australia. I re-read Dorothea Mackellar's poem upon returning home."
Last in Ararat in about 1979 tracking family history Alan was accompanied by David who was only a very young boy at the time.
Alan, lives in Mosman, New South Wales. His great grandfather was James Maclean.
Under James' chairmanship, the Ararat Committee of Progress successfully had the area gazetted a municipality on September 20, 1858.
He was appointed Ararat's first Town Clerk on October 20, 1858, and some years later Shire Clerk.
James married widow, Eliza MacLurcan nee Banfield.
The Banfield family were early settlers of Ararat and H H Banfield, a former editor of The Ararat Advertiser.