Thomas, Sarah (nee Mullane) and their children arrived in Australia from Limmerick in Ireland in 1855-56.

They had seven children; Mary (Mrs William Boyd), Bridget (Mrs John Bell), Margaret (Mrs James Kelly),  John (who married Mary Liston), Thomas junior (who married Catherine O’Dwyer), Elizabeth (Mrs Michael Kane) and Sarah (Mrs Patrick O’Loughlan).

Thomas senior, a builder, built three houses for family members on Loch Erin.

He and his two sons John and Thomas junior eventually purchased bullocks and began a carry business between Geelong and the Wimmera.

The drays were laden with household goods, wool and building materials. John Jess eventually settled in the Wimmera.

There will be a reunion at the Beaufort Sports Complex on Sunday, March 13 with registration at 10.30am followed by BYO picnic lunch at 11.45am. A highlight will be the Jess Pacing Cup at 2pm.

The day will finish with a fully catered barbecue and storytelling under the Big Top at Loch Erin at 5pm.

The reunion committee would like descendants from each branch of the family to attend. For barbecue catering or further information contact Liz on 0417 347 262 or email lizh@aanet.com.au 

LIZ HANRAHAN

Jess Reunion Committee

I SEE that Northern Grampians councillor Wayne Rice has brought the whole world crashing down on his head for his recent comments on Islam.

This somehow speaks volumes about the ‘political correctness’ of our society nowadays. You are not allowed in any way to criticise Islam, even if what you say is factually correct. However, I think that instead of being castigated he should be congratulated for possibly initiating a discussion on this topic – let’s hope it is a sane and sensible one based on fact.   

I wonder if he had made critical remarks about Christianity would he have aroused such publicity.   

I think not, for it appears that you are able to say what you like about Christians and the Christian faith and no one will get upset or concerned in any way (except a few Christians who don’t count much in our society today).

As an article in The Australian pointed out recently; ‘Christianity in general is the only faith that is deemed to be ‘fair game’ for attack.

All other belief systems seem to be a celebration of diversity – no matter how much their tenets are at odds with our history and customs’.

Of course we could also mention the Halal ‘tax’ which we pay on our foods.   

It is almost impossible to avoid this, and so we are paying for mosques to be built and other Islamic projects.   

Yet what a scream there would be if the Catholic Church was to impose a similar tax on us to pay for churches and other Catholic causes.

Let me make a comment about this ludicrous charge of being a ‘racist’, which is thrown at any one who questions Islam in any way, and was hinted at in regards to Cr Rice. I took the trouble to visit Google the other day and do a search on the ‘races of humanity’.   

It was very helpful and told me of Caucasian, Aboriginal, Chinese and many other races, but nowhere in all this long list did it mention Islam or Muslim.   

So I cannot see how anyone who questions Islam in some way can be called a ‘racist’. Islam is not a race – it is a religion and a political system. If we want to have a sensible debate about this matter, then let’s do so on the basis of facts and history.

LEN MARTIN 

Pomonal