If Gravestones Could Talk - Johnson, Janice
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If gravestones could talk what stories they could tell of those who lie beneath, stories of the people who helped shape the township of Camden as we know it today. Of good times and bad times, of tragedies, accidents, of those who had helped build the town and had been part of the community. Of those that had triumphed out of adversity, of the people who worked to build a new life in a colony on the opposite side of the world from where they were born; people of many nationalities. Some had come in chains, others had fled poverty in the hope that the new land would give them opportunities to…mehr

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If gravestones could talk what stories they could tell of those who lie beneath, stories of the people who helped shape the township of Camden as we know it today. Of good times and bad times, of tragedies, accidents, of those who had helped build the town and had been part of the community. Of those that had triumphed out of adversity, of the people who worked to build a new life in a colony on the opposite side of the world from where they were born; people of many nationalities. Some had come in chains, others had fled poverty in the hope that the new land would give them opportunities to prosper. Varying circumstances had brought them to this land. Some had been transported as convicts, and others had come as part of the military establishment. Poverty in the land of their birth had encouraged others to face the dangers of a long sea voyage and seek a new life in the Colony. Some had been engaged by landowners such as the Macarthurs because of the skills they could provide. Late in 2007, I began to prepare a comprehensive listing of those who were buried in St. John's Cemetery using the old Burial Registers and a plan of the Cemetery. It was not until just before Easter 2008 that I began to understand how important it was to know not only the names of those buried there, but who the people in each of the graves were. Tantalising comments in Burial Registers and on gravestones encouraged and challenged me to unlock the stories behind them, "Fell from a window at the Plough and Harrow;" "Run over by own bullock team;" "Killed by a maniac at Camden Park" were just some of the examples. The stories began to emerge from old newspapers and other documents; the gravestones began to speak. This is primarily about some of those buried in the churchyard, about the formation of the town of Camden and building the church. Of people from England, Europe and the Pacific islands who were brought here in chains or undertook the perilous journey to a new life. Of their descendants, many took up the challenge and prospered, others did not meet their full potential as a result of accidents. Others cherished the freedom this land offered and paid the ultimate sacrifice by defending this land in time of war. Resources for the stories are old newspapers, coroner's inquests, letters held in the State Archives and memorials within the church or churchyard. Whether it is in the stained glass windows of the church, on the gravestones in the churchyard, or in tantalising comments in the Burial Registers, the lives of many are told here. Less than half the graves have gravestones or memorial plaques, and many of those are slowly fading and the stones crumbling. All known inscriptions have been recorded and are included. So often, we neglect our old cemeteries looking on them as faded, crumbling stone that have no relevance in our modern world. The people in the cemetery at St. John's may have been forgotten, but their stories give us a fascinating insight into our early history and the people who formed this township. Their descendants still call Camden home and are proud of their heritage and what their forebears achieved.
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Autorenporträt
Janice Johnson (1946 - 2017) Janice was actively involved in a wide range of community activities. She was a member of the Camden Historical Society, Camden Area Family History Society, Camden St John's Anglican Church, Camden Country Women's Association and the Camden Show Society. Janice threw herself into the Camden Historical Society and was at various times a research officer, speakers' co-ordinator, photo selection committee member and also secretary and treasurer for a period. For the Society, she completed seven very comprehensive 'Statements of Significance' folders which are available at the Museum for visitors to read, about items to do with World War I and also the Museum's grand piano and the Onslow uniform. She published If Gravestones Could Talk - Stories from the Churchyard of St John's Camden in 2010; The Memoirs of Obed West in 2011; Reflections on Old Sydney & Colonial Days in 2012; and Reminiscences of Early Camden in 2013. She was a co-author of the fourth edition of They Worked at Camden Park. In April 2014 the Camden Historical Society launched her book Camden World War I Diggers 1914 to 1918. The book drew on published letters from Camden soldiers and nurses in World War I. She was also a co-author with Brian Burnett of a CD 'Camden Unlocking the Past' (2013) and a co-author with Joy Thorn and John Burge of a book on the St Paul's Graveyard at Cobbitty. Janice's books are popular and will be of long-term benefit to future researchers. One of the things that Janice cared deeply about was St. John's. She loved its serenity as a place of worship, its history, the stained glass windows which she carefully photographed for her book, and the gravestones in the cemetery. From 2008 to 2017 Janice was a volunteer archivist at the historic Camden Park House. She typed the extensive card catalogue of the library, which is said to be the most important private library in Australia. Over the years Janice was a prolific columnist in The District Reporter's 'Back Then' history page, contributing many articles with excellent original research which revealed aspects of Camden's history not previously published. Janice's exceptional contribution to local heritage was recognised by a Heritage Volunteer Award in April 2014 by the Heritage Council of NSW. Janice was one of the 'heritage heroes' presented with awards during a ceremony at the Justice and Police Museum. Janice was extremely capable and made an important contribution to local history.