Hello everyone,
I have a huge problem, I cannot find any trace of my grandmother after she emigrated to Australia in the 1960's.
Here's her story -
My Grandmother was born, Eva Mary Edwards, on the 24th September 1885, in Budleigh Salterton, St Thomas, Devon, England. Her parents were William Henry and Mary Elizabeth(formerly Bastow) Edwards.
Eva married William Henry Creek on the 12th April 1909 in Torrington, Devon, England.
After their marriage they moved the Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales.
My Grandad died in January 1960, and is buried in Cardiff.
Eva emigrated to Australia in the 1960's (I have a copy of her passport photograph with the date 1965 stamped on), because of her age she travelled by aeroplane.
She lived with her foster daughter and her family, Audrey (formerly Lailey) and Charlie Stokes, who had already emigrated on 11th May 1962 on board the Strathmore under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme. Audrey's grandson was a child actor and starred in an Australian television series “Against the Wind”.
I have copies of old letters which indicate that the family lived in Victoria, but moved house frequently. The last known address we have is in 1981, is 10 Dunn Street, Broadmeadow, Victoria Australia 3047, but my sister thinks this burnt down in a big fire in the area, and she thinks she then moved to Woorealla Street (not sure of spelling).
We were told she died in 1984, just before her 99th birthday, but the family would not send a copy of the death certificate, and both families lost touch.
I contacted the National Archives of Australia, asking for help finding Eva, and to my surprise they wrote back to me. They checked their collection catalogue and naturalisation index but could not find any records relating to her.
If it wasn't for the fact that I have old letters from her and photographs of her in Australia, I would think she never actually went !!!
My Dad has just celebrated his 85th birthday and I would love to be able to tell him when and where she died and where she is buried.
I have had a lot of sleepless nights trying to find her, any help or suggestions would be very welcome.
Thank you for taking the time to read Eva's story.
Mandy Creek