Migrantweb.com Hostels Forum

bobdennerley · Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:58 am Post subject: BOB DENNERLEY

It's interesting that ive just been made aware of this site! As i only 2 weeks earlier contacted my youngest brother Mark and sugested that we should organise a half century reunion on arriving to Australia with the Gillet family. (Did i say 50 years!). Wow, all those memorie4s of the migrant hostel have just come racing back! Walking around with mates in shorts and plastic sandles catching tiger snakes to impress mum and dad! The swagy that lived in that shack across the road next to the swamp playing in the old grandstand. The fire and the explosion in the oil refienery. Bombfire nights Olwine Gillet in the canteen and lining up friday nights for a hot choclate. The Dennerley family consisted of Stuart (my dad), who past away, Mafrie (mum), about to turn 90, Tony (60 with 2 girls and 2 boys), Neville (54 with 1 son), Roger (54) my twin with 2 girls and Mark who is 51 and has two boys! And myself with two boys and 54 years young!
Bob Dennerley

eileen · Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 7:36 pm Post subject:

I remember the swag man across the road, me and a gang of kids all got food from the canteen and took it across the road to him, i don't remember who i was with. Also there was a witch who lived across the road, she didn't like girls, she killed them, but she liked the boys so they was OK. They say she would hang the girls hearts on the wall. What a story, bet she was a sweet old lady who did nobody any arm. Hot chocolate was good too. my favorite packed lunch for school from the canteen was chocolate splinters on a sandwich come lunch time it had all melted.
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Eileen Griffin

stormfour · Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:43 pm Post subject:

OMG we were discussing your family in earlier posts..you lived next door to us.MYERS family I do hope you are coming to the reunion,most of the Gillets are anyway so that is your day sorted Laughing

and get your family to come along too Very Happy

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Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964

Susan Gillet · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:50 am Post subject:

Hi Bob, great to see a Dennerley on the forum. I was just talking to my mum Olwen yesterday about your family, and wondering where you all were now. Hopefully you will be able to make it to the reunion.
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

Olwen · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:08 am Post subject:

Well, well, well Susan and Janet were visiting us yesterday and we were talking about the Dennerleys, what a coincidence. It was at your dad's funeral and Des suffered his first stroke. At the moment he is not too bad.

Lovely to hear from you, give your mum our best wishes.

Regards Olwen Gillet.

Susan Gillet · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:26 am Post subject:

Guess what???? I've found the Westheads. Spoke to mum and dad Westhead today. Janet lives in Melton, Joanna is in Sunbury, one of the boys lives in Geelong. Mrs. Westhead will be seeing Janet on Wednesday and will give her my number so she can ring me.

Apparently Mrs. McMannus died several years ago, but one of the boys was living in Geelong, so I'll check out phone numbers.

McQuades lived around Footscray, so I'll look into that too.
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

aussietrekker · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:44 am Post subject:

I can contact Frank McManus, he moved to Geelong just before we did. I see him now and then , his brother Max was mate of my late brother-in-law.

aussietrekker · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:45 am Post subject:

I can contact Frank McManus, he moved to Geelong just before we did. I see him now and then , his brother Max was a mate of my late brother-in-law.

Susan Gillet · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:46 am Post subject:

That would be great Judith, I was hoping that you might be able to do that. Also, maybe one of the Logan boys moved to Geelong too, not sure though.
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

aussietrekker · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:36 am Post subject:

We're in "needle in a haystack" territory there...

I might print up some invitations and send them on spec to names and matching suburbs where the families are believed to have settled. it's worth a try, just with the phone book. Also, will contact local western suburbs newspapers-most families didn't stray far from the hostel.

stormfour · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:25 am Post subject:

We may need that wide angle lens after all
Oh and Sue you have not answered my email yet !!!!!
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Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964

Susan Gillet · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:32 pm Post subject:

Um, haven't had an e-mail from you Carol. I'll go and have a look at my myriad accounts to see if I can find one. lol
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

Susan Gillet · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:53 pm Post subject:

Ha, found both your e-mails, and have answered them. Embarassed

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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

stormfour · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that will go and have a look now.
Linda knows where Angela Playfore is ,and also the Hermits both Jean and Isabelle so we can add them to the list as well,I am sure one of them will contact Flo and David Jnr.
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Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964

Susan Gillet · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:24 pm Post subject:

We are certainly getting there. Just wish we could find the Eaton's.
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Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965