NEARLY two centuries of life in the Derwent Valley was celebrated at a recent joint 90th birthday party for cousins Pauline Browning and Ray Browning at the New Norfolk RSL Club. Pauline’s sister, Mavis Beattie, congratulated the pair, who are grandchildren of James and Maria Browning who lived in Gully Rd, Fentonbury, and had seven children.
Pauline has lived and farmed in Gully Rd for most of her life, with cousin Chris Browning (Ray’s younger brother), living nearby. Mrs Beattie said 17 Browning cousins had grown up in close proximity at Fentonbury, with their grandparents close by.
“We enjoyed the healthy lifestyle of fruit and hop picking and had pets galore,” Mrs Beattie said. “We walked to school or at least to the bus stop at the Fentonbury post office – none of this being dropped at the school gate, our parents had neither the time or the vehicles.”
Ray Browning farmed at Gretna, drove trucks at Maydena and was a school bus driver in recent years. He now lives at New Norfolk. The combined 90th birthday party has inspired future get-togethers that may result in an annual family reunion.
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2 Responses
Thank you Damien and Steve. The photographs are lovely. Its a great record of a lovely afternoon with family and friends.
Regards
Pauline
Thankyou for all those lovely photos and comments.