This book is the culmination of many years of research. However, the COVID 19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 have provided a perfect opportunity to intensely pursue piecing together the lives of my great-grandparents, Minnie and William Eason. During this challenging journey, I have learned that writing a book is no easy task. Therefore, I am deeply appreciative of the assistance given to me by several people who have enabled me to complete it.

 

Bernadette Bennett has been my anchor of support from the very beginning when I first discovered Minnie's profoundly sad and disturbing mental health records in 2011. She has been an interested and impartial listener, as I have shared with her and attempted to process the sometimes confronting historical records which periodically emerged. I am appreciative of Bern's encouragement, gentle guidance and considered, constructive feedback during the demanding writing stage, as well as the many hours she dedicated to the task of editing.

 

I am incredibly grateful to my brother, Stuart Eason, who has over many hours, patiently read and scrutinised every word written in this book and applied his expertise in editing. I am indebted to his perseverance and assistance.

 

I would like to also give a big thank you to my husband, Brendon, for his encouragement, loyal support and patient listening ear throughout the research and writing process. He has been my enthusiastic travelling partner to various cemeteries and an eager participant in every road trip we have undertaken in rural Victoria to pursue my family history knowledge.

 

Finally, I would like to give a special thanks to the following people who have contributed in some way to this book by way of proof-reading, editing, formatting, providing valuable photos, sharing family history research, writing tips or sourcing valuable records and newspaper articles:

 

Brian and Margaret Perkins-Stafford

Matt Bennett

Teresa O'Keefe

Fr. Eric Hodgens

Margaret Porter

Noel Anderson

Kate Ingram

Sandie McKoy

Robyn Wood

Annie Pawley, Archivist Sale Diocese

Bill Lewis

Nola Taylor, Foster Historical Society

Mary Davies

Emily Fisher

Cathie McCormick

Heather Arnold, Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

 

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