Cousins found in friendships

Around 33 years ago, I was fortunate enough to be employed at the Catholic Schools Office in Newcastle in a new role.  The position was Parent Participation Coordinator, which had responsibility for parental involvement in the life of schools and more broadly in children's education.  Little did I know at the time that this position was fraught with resistance on the part of some of the Diocesan Principals and staff.

Some Principals, however, were very welcoming of the role and my presence in their schools and were more than willing to work with me to put in place strategies for the parents to play an active part in the education of their children.  On such Principal, Louise Outram, warmly welcomed me into her community, and a friendship was formed that lasted long after my time in Parent Participation. 

Then, some months ago, shortly before the Family Reunion, I published in this blog a bio of John Jennings - son of Thomas and Bridget- who was the caretaker of the Sydney Cricket Ground around the turn of the century. John was married to a woman called Casina, and as a couple, they did not have any children.

A short time later, I was contacted by Louise who tole me her grandmother had been called Casina. I knew it was not John's wife but I also knew that there were other children called Casina in the family. I aske Louise if she knew the name of Casina's father.  She said he was called Jeremiah, I knew then that there was a connection. It turns out that Louise's grandfather Jeremiah and my grandfather Michael were brothers. Making Louise and I third cousins. 

To say we were delighted was something of and understatement amd we both spent the next little while telling everyone we met about this marvellous connection.