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C-BERSS EX-PRESS
December 2002
Issue 4, Vol 5
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All Newsletters : December 2002 : Tardun Mates Get Together In Tassie
Tardun Mates Get Together In Tassie
The 50th Anniversary of the arrival in Australia of 40 child migrants on board the SS Ormonde was celebrated with a barbeque in the lush green landscape of Tasmania on 12 October 2002.
When the SS Ormonde docked in Australia in 1952 most of the boys on board were sent to Glenorchy Boys Town in Hobart. Some, including one of the reunion organizers, John Merrigan, were subsequently sent on to Tardun in WA.
One hundred people, representing 25 of the original 40 child migrants, turned out for the celebratory barbecue. Five old Tardun boys took part, with four of them, traveling from WA. Ex Tardun boy, John Merrigan who took the photo at right, is now a permanent resident on the Apple Isle.
Representing Tardun at the Reunion: (L-R): Des Wright, John Glynn, Betty Morrison and husband Frank Morrison. Also present but not pictured was Mick Monaghan and his wife Edna, plus photographer, Joh
If the photo featured is anything to go by, much fun was had by all at an occasion which provided an opportunity, not only to catch up with old friends, but also to touch base with the green, green grass of a first Australian home.
John Merrigan (Boys Town Glenorchy and Tardun WA) has had his work cut out for him over the past year helping to organise the 50th anniversary reunion of former child migrants who arrived in 1952 on board the SS Ormonde.
Many of the former child migrants who were placed at the Glenorchy Boys Town in Hobart still lived in Tasmania, but others, including those who were subsequently sent to Tardun in WA were scattered as far afield as Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and even the United Kingdom.
The Tasmanian Government donated $6,500 towards the costs of former child migrants travelling to the reunion from distant places, for which the organisers express their appreciation.
John Merrigan tells us the reunion was a great success.
Many old friendships were renewed, stories told, and memories relived (both joyful and sad) while historic photos on display helped to fuel the memory process. The reunion photo below shows the same lads 50 years later perhaps a little less trim around the middle and maybe a little less crop on top!
The presence of one of the original child migrants, Michael Daley, who had flown in from the UK, was especially welcome. Michael said he would dearly love to find his brother David (ex Tardun) with whom he has lost contact (see notice on back page).
After the weekend, those who were able to stay on played an “Ambrose” round of golf before the finale of what was a treasured weekend of friendships renewed before heading home again.
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