Robert John Brudus ROMERIL - a great find!! (thanks Norma)

My interest in researching family history began when my paternal grandmother, Josephine Annie (Nana Rom) visited Sweden in 1954 to meet her father's family.  She returned to Australia with many stories and souvenirs and to my 8 year old brain - it was so exciting and began a life-long journey.  Read about Josephine's journey here.  

My mother was researching our maternal ancestors, and so over the years, together with a couple of paternal cousins, we found quite a few mysteries on our paternal side.  Most of them we have solved.  Read about Edward Thomas Romeril (my paternal great grandfather from Jersey, Channel Islands),  and the mystery surrounding my Swedish great grandfather, Johan Magnus Brudus here.

As an extended family we are really living the "family" connections.  The journey has provided many of us with exciting and interesting adventures.  Several of the family have travelled to Jersey, Sweden, Ireland and England to "tread" the lands of our ancestors.  We have connected with cousins (who have visited us here in Australia). And connected 2nd cousins x 3 times removed!!!! 

However, there are still "surprises" appearing!  

A few years ago, my son, Sean alerted me to a recording on the Northern Beaches Library site.  It is my mother, Patricia Joan Romeril (nee Wilson) telling her story of the family's arrival in Narrabeen, New South Wales.   What a treasure of a find.  You can here the interview here.

And so after all these years, it is such a pleasure to have access to as yet unheard recordings, photos etc. Last night my brother, Andrew, send me a copy of a voice recording of my father taken at Christmas in 1980 talking to his youngest sons.  Andrew's mother, Norma, had forwarded it to him.  Dad is expressing his delight at receiving gifts.  Oh to hear his voice after 40+ years!!!

My father, Robert John Brudus Romeril, was born on 22 November, 1923 in Northcoate, Melbourne, to Robert William Edward Romeril and Josephine Annie Brudus.   He died on 23 November 1981 in Sawtell, New South Wales.  He would have been 100 years old on his last birthday.  

We still have at least one more "surprise".  My cousin, Peter, in Sweden has found a recording of my grandmother taken in Sweden when she was visiting with his dad, Sven.  As the recording is on a steelwire recorder he is waiting to have it transferred to MP3.  What amazing information will this recording hold and how exciting to hear the voices from the past.