Category: History

Emmaus Cemetry Request For Family Support

Local identity Margaret Doecke appeals for relatives of those interned in Emmaus Cemetery to help.

The Emmaus Cemetery dates back to 1872 and is still in use today.

There are many old and uncared for graves.  I have appointed myself a “Friend of the Emmaus Cemetery” and together with the members of the Property/ Maintenance Committee of the St.John’s congregation have devised a plan to upgrade the Cemetery.

Emmaus Cemetery 2016 at beginning of project
Emmaus Cemetery 2016 at beginning of project, Photo by Margaret Doecke

Work has been carried out with grant funding and volunteer effort, and will continue.

This is as far as the committee can go, so now I appeal to the Families of loved ones buried there to contact me re upgrading the graves.

Some of the old names are.. Ziersch, Koster, Sieber, Michalk, Heppner, Fechner, Appelt, Eckermann, Duldig, Kleinig, Hassold, Mader, Handke, Post, Schultz, Pfeiffer, Lindner, Schutz and the list goes on……

If you know if you, or someone you know are 3rd, 4th or 5th generation descendants of these family names and wish to help by renovating these old graves, please contact me as below. This is your family History.

READ THE FULL STORY ON THE SOUTHERN GOYDER NEWS

Emmaus Cemetery at 2016 at beginning of project
Emmaus Cemetery at 2016 at beginning of project, Photo by Margaret Doecke

 

Unearthing WWI History at Friends of the Gallery Birthday

Our special February meeting of the Eudunda Family Heritage Gallery ‘Friends of the Gallery’ morning tea which celebrated the Galley’s Birthday each year was combined with The Probus Club of Eudunda & Districts this year.

Eudundas Citizen of the Year Pam Dutschke cutting the Heritage Gallery Birthday Cake Feb 2017
Eudundas Citizen of the Year Pam Dutschke cutting the Heritage Gallery Birthday Cake Feb 2017

Our guest speaker was Michael Wohltmann who is a retired school teacher, historian and author of his book “A Future Unlived” ‘A forgotten chapter in South Australia’s History’.

During research for his book he found that during World War I, there were 90 internment camps in Australia and Asia Pacific,  with two on Torrens Island in South Australia.

During the ‘Great War’ as it was called, some 6,890 people were interned with German/Austrian heritage, 4,500 being Australian residents. Michael says that many were classed as model citizens before the war. They were often interned because of some loyalty with their fore-fathers and some were still corresponding with distant relatives in Europe.

The Barossa Valley, Eudunda and Loxton were some towns with a predominately German heritage.

One precious piece of information, Michael unearthed relating directly to Eudunda was that a report in the Kapunda Herald, 12th Feb. 1915 tells of the ‘Citizens Forces’, conducting a blockade in Eudunda. At that time they were the reserve units of the Australian Army.

None of those attending the meeting had heard of this before, so it was very interesting. Another Chapter to the facinating Eudunda history.

Many German descendants joined the services to fight for Australia and its allies. This is evident locally with many names recognized on the local Honour Rolls.

Michael Wohltmann, Delilah Balmer, Fay Grosser , Michael Bateman
Michael Wohltmann, Delilah Balmer, Fay Grosser , Michael Bateman

We thank Michael Wohltmann for his very interesting talk.

More information and purchases of Michael’ book can be found at https://torrensislandinternmentcamp.com.au

You can find another report with more detail on the Eudunda Portal
SA and Eudundas World War 1 Links