Thanks to Glen Ward for both of these pictures of the Tumut Pioneer Cemetery:
(click on the pictures to get the full-sized versions)
Memories and history of a small country town
Thanks to Glen Ward for both of these pictures of the Tumut Pioneer Cemetery:
(click on the pictures to get the full-sized versions)
the Tumut Museum will be featuring an exhibition ” Discovering Tumut’s Chinese Heritage’ during March/April 2016.
During early 1930s to 1950, my siblings and I would accompany our father, Dang Charlie DOON , to this Tumut cemetery on occasions for burial of local elderly Chinese workers in tobacco farming., at Tumut Plains…. These burials included lighting of incense , burning of red money envelopes, and offerings of roast pork , sometimes a whole pig, dumplings, cakes, vegetables, etc . ….and Chinese whisky/wine. . . .
It is Chinese tradition for families to visit the graves of ancestors specially during the Lunar New Year petiod. . ..
IN 2008, 22 family members of Dang Charlie and Esther Doon, made a pilgrimage to Nim Ping Village in Guandong Provence , China……they joined country cousins in a ceremony honouring four generations of ancestors…….
During their visit to China, families organised personal guides to visit famous ancient historical sites as well as the modern Olympic Village , Pandas etc. A great experience for 3 generations of the DOON FAMILY. under the guidance of DANNY who left China to complete his schooling in Tumut in 1950, at the age of 15, and RAMON who was already in China for three + years teaching English, accompanied by his wife , Tracy, and son, Aaron.
Both Danny and Ramon were very knowledgeable of where to to hire a bus and suitable accommodation close to Nim Ping Village which made the pilgrimage more enjoyable for all without hitches. Grace Ching (Doon)