The Women Who Made Me, Me! International Womens Day

Today, March the 8th, is International Women’s Day. It is a day to celebrate and honour women both past and present. For my contribution to International Women’s Day, I want to share with you some photos the women who have helped make me, me!

Obviously throughout everyone’s life there are many, many people who influence us. For this post I’m am sticking to the ancestral lines. Concentrating on those whose genes I have inherited at least some of. The ones who taught me things when you were young, and who embedded their values and ideals into me, and no doubt some of whose trait I have picked up.

HERE’S ME …

this is me at age 4

this is me at age 4

 

MY MUM …

Anthea Hannaford age about 3

Anthea Hannaford (age about 3). Married Alan Phillips.

 

MY 2 GRANDMA’S …

Valda Winter (age c.19)

Valda Winter age c.19 (1916-living).
Married Horace ‘Ron’ Phillips.

Evelyn Randell (1916-2006) age 5, with 'Pete', one of her bothers.She married Cecil Hannaford.

Evelyn Randell (1916-2006) age 5, with ‘Pete’, one of her bothers.
She married Cecil Hannaford.

 

MY 4 GREAT GRANDMA’S …

Winifred Lena Cosgrove (1892-1976)

Winifred Lena Cosgrove (1892-1976).
Married Horace Norman Phillips.

Irene Daley (1894-1954).Married Otto Rafael Winter.

Irene Daley (1894-1954).
Married Otto Rafael Winter.

Dorothy McCullough (1889-1987). Married Ralph Hannaford.

Dorothy McCullough (1889-1987).
Married Ralph Hannaford.

Ella Sinkinson (1876-1943).Married John Beavis "J.B." Randell.

Ella Sinkinson (1876-1943). The lady in the bottom corner is her oldest daughter, Anne.
Married John Beavis “J.B.” Randell.

MY 8 GREAT GREAT GRANDMA’S … 
Although I do have photos for 6 of my 8 great great grandma’s I have opted to simply list them, to save this becoming so ridiculously long.

Kezia Howard (Cecelia) ‘Sis’ BEECKEN (1867-1939)
m. Samuel Thomas PHILLIPS

Mary Ellen LUCAS (c.1856-1944)
m. Denis John COSGROVE

Hedvik (Karolina) VINBLAD (1856-1934)
m. Otto Edvard WINTER

Margaret Florence HAYHURST (1855-1935)
m. John DALEY

Martha Rosa KELLY (1864-1901)
m. William John HANNAFORD

Eva RICHARDSON (1860-1925)
m. Robert McCULLOUGH

Phebe ROBBINS (1838-1932)
m. William Beavis RANDELL

Lydia Amelia BAYS
m. Ebenezer SINKINSON

In case you were wondering who was who in the top picture …
Top row L-R: Phebe Robbins, Alona Phillips, Dorothy McCullough, Evelyn Randell, Martha Rosa Kelly, Evelyn Randell & Cec Hannaford’s wedding.
Bottom row L-R: Valda Winter, Winifred Lena Cosgrove, Anthea Phillips (nee Hannaford), Valda Winter’s wedding, Irene Daley.

Every one of these women (and their husbands too), played a part in making me who I am. Some were emigrants, some were pioneering women, many were hardworking country folk. And I’m sure some of their traits have come through the generations.

www.internationalwomensday.com

#MakeItHappen

#IWD2015

11 Responses to “The Women Who Made Me, Me! International Womens Day”

  1. Deb Miller says:

    Great photos Alona. Not meaning to be picky or anything, but shouldn’t that be Ebenezer Sinkinson who married Lydia Amelia Bays?

    • Alona says:

      Oh dear, thanks for picking it up Deb. And I did check it all too. Obviously not well enough. Anyway fixed now.

  2. Crissouli says:

    What a wonderful tribute to all those who ‘made’ you… beautiful photos. Love the similarities with you and your Mum. I have nowhere near that number of photos over so many generations.
    Thank you so much for sharing, Alona….

    • Alona says:

      Thanks Crissouli. I still don’t see a lot of similarity between myself and my mum, though others have said so before. Actually finding old photos of my grandma (mum’s mum), I would say I looked a lot like her when she was young.

  3. Helen Connor says:

    Wonderful post +Alona Testa – and beautiful photos – I loved seeing them – Happy IWD to all my women genie friends

  4. Jill Ball says:

    A beaut idea for a post and what a bonzer collection of images. I hope we get to see your 6 Great-Great Grandmothers one day.

    • Alona says:

      Thaks Jill. Maybe I should do a collection of my great great grandma’s next IWD. Or what ever other occassion I find.

  5. Alex says:

    Such a beautiful post Alona. A real treat visually. Quite envious of your photos 🙂

    • Alona says:

      Thanks Alex, I have to thank my dad for the pics, as he’s the one that collected them all way back when he started doing this.

  6. Iris says:

    Love the post, Alona. How wonderful to have photos from so many generations.

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