ON the weekend of August 22, seven family members of local identity David Andrew travelled to Victoria to celebrate the 100th birthday party of David’s former mother-in-law Mary Harrison (nee Bell) in the Ky Valley Hall near Kyabram.
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Unfortunately David was unable to attend the family gathering due to recent ill-health, but family from Wolumla and Tathra travelled in convey to attend the party with about 120 guests.
Mary Harrison is the great great granddaughter of Mary Reiby the lady pictured on the Australian $20 note.
Mary Reiby had a middle class background but was sent to Australia for seven years as a convict after running away and stealing a horse. She married the nephew of governor at that time, Thomas Raby and they moved up to Sydney and together they started Bank of NSW (now Westpac).
She was a leading Australian businesswoman at the time but also led a lot of charitable work.
The Raby family owned Entally House in Tasmania near Launceston (one of the famous country estate houses in Tasmania). Mary Harrison used to visit as a child on school holidays.
Mary has four children: Sandra, Mabs, Bruce, Patti, 12 grand-children, 22 great grand-children.
Mary was a war bride and married William Harrison at the start of world war two. Her brother Brigadier General 'Ding' Bell was a senior player in post war governance of Japan. He died a few years ago age 96. They adored each other.
Mary Harrison’s husband died 20 years ago age 89. Her other sister Nesta died in her late 80's
David Andrew’s son Peter flew out from Singapore where he lives with his wife and three children to celebrate his grandmother’s 100th birthday and also his own 50th birthday and commented on how long members of his family live for.
“We all hope we carry those genes!” he said.
“One fact I find amazing... is not one of Mary's direct descendants has died.
“Daughter Mabs (actually MaryBell and an abbreviation of her mother's maiden name Mary Aileen Bell) was in a serious car accident, died and was resuscitated several times 30 years ago.
“But apart from that there’s been no glitches,” Peter said.