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Just a short note to all our readers ... 

Have a happy Christmas

and a

wonderful New Year

 Stand by for news about Cowper200 +

John

Readers will be excited to hear that the "final" meeting of the Cowper200 Committee meeting yesterday we agreed that the work started by the Committee should continue - albeit on a lower key. It was agreed that Cowper200 + should continue the work begun by Cowper200!

The committee also decided that the following should continue in the the roles specified.

Secretary - Liz Pawsey

Treasurer - Mick Cowper

Chairman - yours truly

Accordingly a 'watching brief' will be maintained with the folllowing terms of reference

1.      Stimulate and encourage further research into the life and legacy of William Cowper

2.      Stimulate and encourage further research into the lives and legacies of his children and descendants

3.      Encouragement of fellow family members in their quest for scholarship and knowledge about the family

4.      Encouragement of the perpetuation of the family ethos and values system

5.      Act as ‘central’ clearing point for commemorations, celebrations, where a central unifying role is required

6.      Maintenance of family database

7.      Maintenance of family website

8.      Maintenance of the family tree

9.      Development and maintenance of a register of family memorabilia

10.  Publication of an occasional family newsletter

Additionally some ideas for future functions were floated - nothing formal yet, but food for thought as we keep the Cowper spirit alive!

So watch this space!

We certainly started something didn't we?

I'll be in touch

John

No sooner do our adventures with Cowper200 come to an end and Bill Brooks is off to the UK - I received the following email from him this evening. He makes a good point about Charles' grave towards the end. Needless to say, we'll follow up to see what can be done!

Something for the Charles Branch to follow up!

"Hi John

"We did a tour of Highgate Cemetery on Saturday and visited the grave of Charles, William Harrington and Rose. They are buried in the West Cemetery, which is accessible only by guided tour; weekdays at 2 p.m. and hourly on weekends (will check the exact details). It is a lovely woodland cemetery, with curving paths and graves overgrown with ivy. We asked about Charles's grave at the end of the tour: our guide didn't know, but one of the others did. It is on the south side of the cemetery; if you take the south path from the entrance, it is about 100 metres on the left.

"The inscription on the grave was lead lettering rather than being carved into the stone, and the letters have all been prised off and stolen, so the inscription itself is now practically illegible, although if you know what you are looking for you can make out "Sir Charles Cowper KCMG, born 26 April 1807, died 1875" etc. I asked about having it restored and the guide will make inquiries. She said they would be interested in a talk about Charles (she knew he was called "Slippery Charlie"!) for the Friends of Highgate Cemetery at some stage.

"Best wishes

"Bill"

And so we came back to Wivenhoe!

Sunday 23 August saw the extended family descend upon the family home once more and probably for the first time since Wivenhoe passed out of the family's hands we had all surviving desecndant families represented for a family picnic and reunion.

But first seventy of us squeezed into the the tiny church of St Paul at Cobbitty where so much of our family history has been written. Here Henry was married in the Heber Chapel alongside, here Charles was a church warden and trustee for thirty years, here so many of our family, (Cowpers, Pains, Robisons) lie buried and here other, younger, family members have married and here we met to give thanks on Sunday morning last.

Then onto Wivenhoe where about 150 family and friends met, chatted and caught up with each other. They talked about family, and the celebrations and enjoyed each others company yet again.

Sister Mary once more entertained and inspired us with the spirit of the place and Wivenhoe's more recent history.

Small presentations were given to those who had spoken at the 'William's Children' lectures on Tuesday last.

Public recognition was given by the assmebled family to the Cowper200 Committee that had done so much to make the month of August 2009 a month that will be remembered for many many years to come.

And a tree was planted by the children of those present ... something for them to remember, and visit perhaps with their families in the years and decades ahead.      

Family photographs were taken, collectively, and by descendant branch

And then, sadly it was all over!

Long farewells, hugs, kisses and a few tears.

Until next time we all come back to Wivenhoe.

Back from the Cowper Places Tour (Day Two) and I can report that it was just as inspiring as the reports of Day One suggested, and we had an added bonus. We had time to visit St Jude's Randwick, and William's grave. Very moving. Our thanks to Janet Hay for organising such an interesting couple of days!

As I said in my last post the opportunity to visit my great grandparents home and therefore where my grandfather grew up was awesome, and to actually walk through Biloela was awe inspiring and will provide lasting memories of Cowper200. And wasn't it great that we had such a contingent from the Charles Branch with which to share!

Well we're all off to Wivenhoe on Sunday- it looks like the numbers will top the 150 - and with a contIngent like that we know we'll have fun!

All the best, see you Sunday

John 

Reports are flooding in that the Cowper Places tour (Day One) kindly organised by Janet Hay as a key part of the Cowper200 commemorations was a great success. I've had several phone calls from those who took the trip - some from the bus itself!  And being a passenger on the bus for Day Two of the Tour - I just can't wait!

The tour visits places like St Philip's, Holy Trinity Church, Cowper Wharf Roadway, St Paul's College, the University of Sydney, Sydney Grammar School and the Bethel Union and finishes at Cockatoo Island. I'm fascinated to be visiting the latter - as my grandfather Frederic Robison grew up on the Island along with his brothers and sisters when Charles Jr was the Sheriff of Sydney and Water Magistrate in the late 1800s. They lived at Biloela, which I have never visited.

Then to be visiting Wivenhoe on Sunday, where Frederic was born (along with most of that generation of Cowpers and Robisons) will certainly 'round out' the week for me!

And it's just wonderful to see the fun and enjoyment our relatives are sharing during Cowper200.

More later

John

18 August 2009 will long be remembered by those who attended the various events held today to commemorate the arrival of our forebear William Cowper in New South Wales on this day in 1809.

Today's activities were rather special and I know will live in the hearts of our family for years to come. 

Being honoured by the Governor at not just the Civic Thanksgiving Service but also the talks on William's Children made us all feel very proud to be descended from such a man as William. The words spoken by the Archbishop of Sydney made us all feel rather inadequate when hearing of the faith, nature and work ethic of this man. Then to have William and his family honoured by the Speaker of the Parliament made the day complete for many.

Both this blog and the family website will carry more news and pictures over the days and weeks to come ... but tonight I just want to say to all those who attended the events of  today "thank you for coming and sharing the moment".

And we still have the 'Cowper Places' tours and our family picnic at Wivenhoe to look forward to. 

Thanks again to the family for making this a week to remember. 

Best wishes and love

John

The day has arrived

 And it's one of those sparkling August mornings that only Sydney can turn on. What a day we have before us. We host the Governor this morning as we learn more about Wiliam's Children - then the Civic Service at midday at St Philip's, again with the Governor in attendance.

 And at three this afternoon the Speaker of the NSW Parliament welcomes us.

More tonight!

 John

One day to go!

What a wonderful day it was yesterday - words can hardly express the joy at being among the 335 family members, friends and 'supporters' at St Philip's church, the building of which William advocated and then supervised, and ultimately served at, as his parish church during the last two years of his life.

We have had many compliments about the service, and the message preached by the 15th Rector of St Philip's Rev'd Justin Moffatt. The music was inspiring and the service, such was the consensus, the right balance bewteen formal and contemporary. 

Then, as over two hundred of us had lunch together in the foyer of No 1 York Street, the site of the original St Philip's schools and later the parsonage, the happiness of everyone being together was obvious and a joy.   

The group photograph was a hoot! The 200th Anniversary cake great fun and the Reverend's Cellar much appreciated - a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

And at the lunch I met some regular readers of this blog! Most satisfatcory. 

May I add how touched Corinne and I were at receiving the thank you gifts from the Committee. It was a wonderful surprise and very much appreciated! My gift in particular will find a place among our Cowper memorabilia, on show, for us all and anyone who asks to enjoy. Corinne's no doubt will be consumed, ideally with the immediate family at the table so we can all enjoy the moments of Cowper200 again.

And so the week proceeds - to the book launch this afternoon, then back to Church Hill in the morning for lectures and the Civic Thankgiving Service - thence to Parlaiment House for the Speaker's Reception and exhibition.

Cowper Places tours take place, such was their popularity, on both Wednesday and Thursday. 

An then to Wivenhoe on Sunday.

Quite a week! 

I'll report in tomorrow night!

 Lots of love to the family and our regular readers

John

I can't believe this, the day, of our our first celebration at St Philip's has arrived. Fine and clear, with a forecast in the high twenties, ideal for the first of our Sydney based commemorations for our forebear.There will be a huge congregation at St Philip's this morning to give thanks for he life and work of Wiliam (and his family) and then as we gather for lunch, no doubt old relationships will be re-established. And new ones commenced.

Just a note of thanks to to the Committe who has worked tirelessly to bring this week about .. thank you ... it has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with you for the last three years.

 God bless

 John