Where Do You Come From?

 

My mother with her grandfather on the verandah of the family house in Tempe

Where do you come from?

Is this a question you ever ask yourself?

I often do. As my Australian visit comes to a close and my family and I spend more and more time looking at old photos and recent ones I often wished I could have a day with some of my grandparents, great-grandparents, great aunts and uncles to hear about their adventures, dreams, difficulties and life’s lessons.

The above photo is where I come from. That is my great-great grandfather on the verandah of his Tempe home with my mother.

My great grandfather had tennis courts and a farm in Tempe which the NSW government resumed overnight that became the railway yards. Mum always told me it broke his heart.

Unfortunately it’s not possible to chat with my relatives but thank-god we have photos of them that I can look at to see if there is an insight into where I come from, what they once wore, ate, how they played, laughed and lived.

I had the luxury of having a photographer Aunty who always photographed my sisters, brother and me and we have a wonderful record of our childhood in black and white and colour on horses, in creeks, picking wildflowers and doing all those things kids do.. Thanks to Aunty Val someone down the track will know how we too lived, laughed and played.

I have morphed into this generation’s Aunty, the keeper of the record and the chronicler of where we are going. From the minute I got my hands on a camera  I have been shooting my family. The above pic was taken this summer of darling Charlotte wrapped in one my scarves (loads more to come)!

Where do you come from? And who are you shooting?

“What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has al worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right Now” Author Unknown

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Debra Kolkka
11 years ago

I have just done a post with some old photos we scanned from transparencies taken by my Mum and Dad. It was fun to look back on an idyllic childhood at the Gold Coast.

Jess Flett
11 years ago

What a gorgeous photo of Charlotte. Jx

Carolyn
Carolyn
11 years ago

Lovely, Carla – and you are certainly going to keep the flag flying for future generations!! How beautiful is Charlotte! C x

Grace
11 years ago

Utterly beautiful. You are so blessed.
Yes I often wonder where I came from as I haven’t a single photo of childhood. Photos weren’t considered essentials of the things my parents packed before migrating to Australia as refugees a decade ago. Love the quote on the future from this point. Definitely will keep visual records for my future children and family 🙂

Kym
Kym
11 years ago

My dad’s wife has just collated a series of photographs of my extended Brady Bunch family that is now hanging on their wall. I think it even includes some shots of my father’s grandparents before they immigrated from Scotland so many years ago. It’s a wonderful collage even if some photos are cringe-worthy…there are a few mullet shots, fortunately not me. So good to have those moments captured in time.

Janine
11 years ago

Carla….this post is making me melt! I love it. You must be the favourite zia of your gorgeous tribe. I don’t have to ask to know you’ve had a wonderful stay. Take care on the way ‘home’. Jxx

rosanna
11 years ago

Lovely pic of Charlotte and they are lucky to have such a auntie taking them piccies.
Some time ago I made a post on my blog about my family: my granny has wonderful pics in sepia of her grands and I scanned them all.
My best loved is the one of my Granny’s aged 5 months in her mum’s arm. It was the beginning of 1920 and now she is 93 :o))
We are very lucky to have a background of family and love,Rosanna

peggy braswell
11 years ago

I have family in US Pensacola,Fla. I am lucky to have wonderful pictures also. Happy Monday + glad you had such a wonderful time at home. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

jeanette
jeanette
11 years ago

Carla once more you bring tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. You are such a caring daughter . Dad and I are so proud of you, your love for all and your work. We are happy that you have a wonderful loving Francesco it makes it easier for us when you are on the other side of the world.Love always Mum and Dadxxxx

LatteLisa
11 years ago

It broke my heart just reading about your great grandfather.

Thanks for sharing your family story with us and allow me to add that I love the scarf! Such a beautiful picture.