Around 100 descendants of Earnest and Alice Wykes, formerly of 88 Warne Street, descended on Wellington over October 28 and 29 for a family reunion.
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The reminiscing started on Saturday afternoon as family members were reacquainted with cousins and aunts who in many cases hadn’t seen each other for up to 60 years.
The family reunion dinner was well received, speeches were made and a toast to Ern and Alice proposed and homage paid. The reunion guests of honour, Aunties Avery, Jenny and Frances cut the celebration cake and the reminiscing continued well into the night.
On Sunday many family members participated in a ‘Wykes family history tour’ which took in many places prominent in their upbringing. The tour stopped at several spots in the Bournewood district and then onto Yeoval. A memorial tree was planted at Rozelyne cemetery at Curra Creek to commemorate the lives of James and Susan Wykes.
The reunion was deemed a great success and fired the spirit and comradery of those who attended.
Earnest and Alice moved to Wellington in 1946 and were well-known in the Bournewood/Yeoval districts for their community involvement and philanthropy, as well as their prowess in the pavilions of the annual shows all around the Central West.
Ern and Alice raised 10 children, Violet, Oswald, John, Avery, Roy, Geoffrey, Ivan, Leila, Jennette and Frances. The family tree now boasts over 600 members, with four new additions in the last couple of months.
