Mid North Coast Pioneers - Newcastle to Lismore and beyond

Albert's son, Henry, the informant on his death certificate, stated that Albert was born in Malmesbry. He may have been unsure and associated the place of Albert's marriage to the place he was born.

The IGI has the following details in the transcription database.

Albert Hudson christened on 1 Nov 1857 at Wingham, Kent, England.

Father: Frederick Long HUDSON Mother: Eliza HUDSON

The date of christening fits as does the mother's name of Eliza, although Henry stated that Albert's mother's name was Elizabeth.

Further research is required.

It is interesting to note that Lucy was listed among the single women in the immigration records when she arrived in Sydney in 1884.

I have found the following entry in the NSW birth index

28830/1887 HUDSON LUCY E ALBERT LUCY JUNEE It appears that Albert and Lucy may have lived in Junee, NSW at some time Viz the above birth registration. Junee, at one time, had a large railway operation and being an engine driver, Albert may well have lived in Junee at one time.

Henry is stated as a bachelor and Agnes as a spinster.

The Wesleyan Minister was James Adams Nolan. Witnesses to the marriage were Alfred Nettleship and Janet Jeffress.

In trying to find Ted's marriage I searched the NSW Marriage Index and found the following entries:

13972/1910 HUDSON EDWARD FRANKLIN ELIZABETH WAVERLEY 11157/1912 HUDSON EDWARD A LEY AMY L ROCKDALE The second entry is probably the most likely as this made him 21 at the time of marriage. It also lists his second initial as A. It appears that he was always known as Eddie (Edward) and not by his registered birth first name, Albert. There were no other likely entries up to 1940 search on Albert and Edward.

WORONORA CEMETERY

Family members interred:

Lucy HUDSON: I101 Albert HUDSON: I102 Robert Charles BLYTON: I294 Harold Francis HUTCHINGS: I3081 William Robert TAYLOR: I3483 Thelma CLARKE: I4184

Location:

Linden Street. Sutherland. NSW 2232

Phone: 02 9545 4677 Facsimile: 02 9545 1010 mailto:mail@woronoracemetery.org.au Web: http://www.woronoracemetery.org.au

History

Woronora came into being after land that had been a brickworks and almost a racecourse was gazetted as a general cemetery on April 2 1895.

A short rail line linking the cemetery with Sutherland Station was opened for use on July 28 1900. The platform was situated where the present office stands. The advent of the motor funeral saw the decline in the use of the funeral train, with the last service running in 1944, Although the occasional circus train was said to have been shunted onto the line. The line finally closed in 1947.

Up to 1950's graves were usually surrounded by kerbing with a headstone attached, size and ornamentation more often than not reflected the economic circumstances of the deceased. Around this time the lawn cemetery concept was introduced, with a plain flat bronze plaque, because of this the headstone as an indicator of society and the storytelling epitaph have been lost to some extent.

As time went by the cultural diversity of the district was changing. In the 1970's above ground entombment was introduced. The Trust in the late 1990's constructed the Crypts of Christ the Redeemer, this building is designed to cater for 424 above ground entombments.

The cemetery is nearing capacity with the last large parcel of land being developed. It is expected that space for sale of the right of burial for new gravesites will be exhausted approximately 2025.

In 1929 the Trust discussed the building of a crematorium. The building designed by Louis Robertson, Architect and constructed by R Smith, Master Builder of Bexley was completed and officially opened on April 21 1934. The tender price being 8,974 pounds ($17948). The building, with several additions in keeping with the original design, is considered significant in the Art Deco style and is listed with the National Trust.

The memorial gardens keep expanding as cremation becomes more popular. As well as rose gardens several niche building have been constructed, the Garden Court in the 1950's was followed by the Floral Court, the Palm Court in 1970 and the largest, the Centenary Court was built in 1995 which has over 8000 memorial niches.

It would be expected that because of the nature of cremation and the small space taken up for memorialisation that the crematorium will continue indefinitely.

Statement by the Trust:

The Woronora General Cemetery and Crematorium Trust serves the community of the metropolitan area of Sydney, NSW Australia by rendering professional services with care and understanding associated with the conduct of burials cremations and the memorialisation of the deceased.

A strong community link is maintained by the Trust through the seven honorary Board Members who govern the Trust; they are drawn from all walks of life, the professions and religious backgrounds and fully reflect community values and standards.

The Board of Woronora is committed to delivering the highest standards of excellence in management and the provision of funeral services to the community.

The Board takes pride in the expertise of its staff that allows it to relate flexibly to the more individual or specialised requests of community members.