DOUBLE CELEBRATION
It was a double celebration recently – Geoff Henderson’s 70th birthday and 28th Wedding Anniversary for Geoff and Barbara. Pictured: Geoff, Colin, Stephen and Jennifer – all born on December 30th.
Geoff Henderson of Kobble Creek turned 70 on the 30th of December 2008, a birthday shared with youngest brother Colin, 57 of Laceys Creek, third son Stephen, 44, and grand-daughter Jennifer, 15 – Stephen’s daughter – both of Kobble Creek. It wasn’t until this year that a photograph of the four of them together was taken, at another recent family gathering.
To celebrate Geoff’s 70th, he and wife Barbara decided to have a party – such occasions were rare when both were children. They chose their 28th wedding anniversary in January 2009 for a party weekend, over the 10th (anniversary day) and 11th, at Barbara’s home in the little Brisbane Valley town of Moore. This is where Barbara’s mother was born in 1911, and where her father came to as a 6 year-old from Scotland in 1912.
Party guests included members of both Geoff’s and Barbara’s families, from an 81 year-old aunt of Geoff’s to his 15 month-old great-grandson and Barbara’s 2½year-old great-granddaughter. Their combined families of 8 children, 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren presently cover a span of 50 years and keep life busy and interesting.
Sons, daughters, brothers, cousins, grandchildren aged between 3 and 26, plus spouses, came from suburban Brisbane, the Pine, Caboolture and South Burnett regions, the Brisbane Valley, and further away from near Rockhampton and Townsville. Some hadn’t met for 20 years or more, such as the cousin from Wondai who wanted to know who the cousin from Rockhampton was – it was so long since she’d last seen him!
For Geoff, there were five generations of family – his aunt (on his mother’s side), Geoff himself, his grown-up children – Rodney, Sandra, Craig, Stephen, Pam and Terry – 12 grandchildren and his great-grandson, whose other great-grandfather, Elwyn, at 80+ also enjoyed the evening. Various friends visited over the two days, including a contingent from the Samsonvale Rural Fire Brigade, with which Geoff has been involved almost since its inception almost 60 years ago as a volunteer Bushfire Brigade.
Thanks to the generosity of Barbara’s neighbor who allowed use of his adjacent vacant block, many guests overnighted, the paddock quickly transforming into “Vince’s Caravan Park” on the Saturday. Barbara’s large shed proved its worth as kitchen, server and overnight bedroom for a couple of guests. The January weather, on this special weekend, was kind to us, and of the 80 who came to celebrate, 73 enjoyed Saturday evening’s B.B.Q. Much appreciation went to those who helped, and to the “girls” of our families, who provided salads and sweets. Barbara made the cake to celebrate both Geoff’s birthday and the wedding anniversary, complete with 70 candles, which created a small blaze when lit.
Geoff the firefighter extinguished the “fire” in one puff before cutting the cake. After this ceremony and a few words from Geoff and Barbara, the socializing resumed as darkness closed in, and the evening eventually came to a close.
All present enjoyed themselves, with the littlies being organized by 15 year-old Jennifer at one stage.
A memorable sight for Barbara was Geoff’s children in a cluster, with the several photo albums she had compiled from the hundreds of photos she had taken over the past 25 years or so – photos of them as they grew up. From when the youngest was about 9 until when the oldest celebrated his 50th in 2008, there were photos they had never seen – of trips and holidays, weddings, babies, Christmas gatherings and birthday parties.
Geoff just simply enjoyed the whole 2 days, but lamented the fact that there wasn’t enough time to speak to everyone. Barbara’s biggest regret was also lack of time, because as the family “paparazzi”, she usually makes good use of her camera, but was just too busy and missed some good shots, especially one of “Vince’s Caravan Park”. Late afternoon arrivals on Saturday described this sight as “impressive”.It was a wonderful party – ‘THE BIG ONE” for Geoff, and will remain one of the high spots of very full lives for both Geoff and Barbara. In childhoods which included World War 2 and growing up in the 40’s and 50’s, birthday parties didn’t happen very often.
Geoff has been around Samsonvale, now Kobble Creek again, since 1951 when his father bought land on Mt Kobble to grow bananas. The four oldest Henderson sons helped before getting their own farms in the area. As a young married in 1958, Geoff established his own banana farm at Mt Kobble, and with wife Alice, raised their six children. He is well-known for his long-term involvement with the Samsonvale Rural Fire Brigade, formerly the Samsonvale Bushfire Brigade. In addition, as a young father, he also served on the Mt Samson State School Committee, and the Samsonvale & District Hall Committee. It is common knowledge that he has always been willing to assist when and where needed, never shirking responsibilities. His banana farm, though small, was always conscientiously and carefully managed, producing excellent fruit. When that work creased, due to bunch-top disease in the early 1990’s, he conducted a one-man slashing business, gaining a reputation for top-class work and total honesty.
He has earned his retirement, but still keeps busy maintaining his property at Kobble Creek, and is still very willing to help where he can.
The weekend celebration of his 70th birthday and his and Barbara’s 28th wedding anniversary, took a bit of organizing by them, but both enjoyed two wonderful days, and Saturday evening, with family and friends.
To celebrate Geoff’s 70th, he and wife Barbara decided to have a party – such occasions were rare when both were children. They chose their 28th wedding anniversary in January 2009 for a party weekend, over the 10th (anniversary day) and 11th, at Barbara’s home in the little Brisbane Valley town of Moore. This is where Barbara’s mother was born in 1911, and where her father came to as a 6 year-old from Scotland in 1912.
Party guests included members of both Geoff’s and Barbara’s families, from an 81 year-old aunt of Geoff’s to his 15 month-old great-grandson and Barbara’s 2½year-old great-granddaughter. Their combined families of 8 children, 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren presently cover a span of 50 years and keep life busy and interesting.
Sons, daughters, brothers, cousins, grandchildren aged between 3 and 26, plus spouses, came from suburban Brisbane, the Pine, Caboolture and South Burnett regions, the Brisbane Valley, and further away from near Rockhampton and Townsville. Some hadn’t met for 20 years or more, such as the cousin from Wondai who wanted to know who the cousin from Rockhampton was – it was so long since she’d last seen him!
For Geoff, there were five generations of family – his aunt (on his mother’s side), Geoff himself, his grown-up children – Rodney, Sandra, Craig, Stephen, Pam and Terry – 12 grandchildren and his great-grandson, whose other great-grandfather, Elwyn, at 80+ also enjoyed the evening. Various friends visited over the two days, including a contingent from the Samsonvale Rural Fire Brigade, with which Geoff has been involved almost since its inception almost 60 years ago as a volunteer Bushfire Brigade.
Thanks to the generosity of Barbara’s neighbor who allowed use of his adjacent vacant block, many guests overnighted, the paddock quickly transforming into “Vince’s Caravan Park” on the Saturday. Barbara’s large shed proved its worth as kitchen, server and overnight bedroom for a couple of guests. The January weather, on this special weekend, was kind to us, and of the 80 who came to celebrate, 73 enjoyed Saturday evening’s B.B.Q. Much appreciation went to those who helped, and to the “girls” of our families, who provided salads and sweets. Barbara made the cake to celebrate both Geoff’s birthday and the wedding anniversary, complete with 70 candles, which created a small blaze when lit.
Geoff the firefighter extinguished the “fire” in one puff before cutting the cake. After this ceremony and a few words from Geoff and Barbara, the socializing resumed as darkness closed in, and the evening eventually came to a close.
All present enjoyed themselves, with the littlies being organized by 15 year-old Jennifer at one stage.
A memorable sight for Barbara was Geoff’s children in a cluster, with the several photo albums she had compiled from the hundreds of photos she had taken over the past 25 years or so – photos of them as they grew up. From when the youngest was about 9 until when the oldest celebrated his 50th in 2008, there were photos they had never seen – of trips and holidays, weddings, babies, Christmas gatherings and birthday parties.
Geoff just simply enjoyed the whole 2 days, but lamented the fact that there wasn’t enough time to speak to everyone. Barbara’s biggest regret was also lack of time, because as the family “paparazzi”, she usually makes good use of her camera, but was just too busy and missed some good shots, especially one of “Vince’s Caravan Park”. Late afternoon arrivals on Saturday described this sight as “impressive”.It was a wonderful party – ‘THE BIG ONE” for Geoff, and will remain one of the high spots of very full lives for both Geoff and Barbara. In childhoods which included World War 2 and growing up in the 40’s and 50’s, birthday parties didn’t happen very often.
Geoff has been around Samsonvale, now Kobble Creek again, since 1951 when his father bought land on Mt Kobble to grow bananas. The four oldest Henderson sons helped before getting their own farms in the area. As a young married in 1958, Geoff established his own banana farm at Mt Kobble, and with wife Alice, raised their six children. He is well-known for his long-term involvement with the Samsonvale Rural Fire Brigade, formerly the Samsonvale Bushfire Brigade. In addition, as a young father, he also served on the Mt Samson State School Committee, and the Samsonvale & District Hall Committee. It is common knowledge that he has always been willing to assist when and where needed, never shirking responsibilities. His banana farm, though small, was always conscientiously and carefully managed, producing excellent fruit. When that work creased, due to bunch-top disease in the early 1990’s, he conducted a one-man slashing business, gaining a reputation for top-class work and total honesty.
He has earned his retirement, but still keeps busy maintaining his property at Kobble Creek, and is still very willing to help where he can.
The weekend celebration of his 70th birthday and his and Barbara’s 28th wedding anniversary, took a bit of organizing by them, but both enjoyed two wonderful days, and Saturday evening, with family and friends.
Barbara Henderson.
