Australian woman seeking to identify long-lost family members from Lossiemouth
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AN AUSTRALIAN woman with close links to Lossiemouth is hoping for help identifying long-lost family members.
Helen Bray, from Brisbane, contacted the Northern Scot in the hope that someone would be able to identify the people pictured with her father way back in the early 20th century.
She has some idea as to who may be in the picture, but is seeking clarification from someone who may know for sure.
Mrs Bray said: "I think the man with the "x" above his head could be one of my father's brothers and one, at least, of the ladies would be a niece of my fathers.
"My father Alexander Stewart was the youngest member of his family of seven and he had six brothers and one sister, Margaret.
"I hope I have some luck in identifying some of the people in this photo, especially the man with the cross above his head and the lady who sent the photo to my dad."
Mrs Bray has never lived in Scotland, having been born in Australia in 1938. Her family moved Down Under from Lossie in 1925.
She still has one relation in Lossie – with the daughter of one of her father's nieces, Valerie Stewart, living beside Moray Golf Club.
Helen added: "Many members of my family who were born and bred in Lossie came to Australia by ship in the 1925. My parents plus my two brothers, John and Sid, and my sister Gladys set out to sail to Australia.
"Two of my father's brothers, Sidney Stewart and Edward Stewart, also migrated to Australia, so did two of my mother's sisters.
"I know from hearing my dad when exchanging notes with Edward that they were always asking each other "have you heard anything from Aggie, Helen, or Thomasina lately?"
"They were always looking forward to receiving letters from their nieces. But knowing how younger people are at writing letters, I don't think the nieces wrote frequently enough for my dad or his brother Edward.
"I have never personally met my Scottish relatives. However, over the last couple of years, our two daughters, Elizabeth and Jennifer, on separate occasions, have both travelled to Britain and included Lossie in their visits.
"The only living relative I have in Scotland now is Valerie Stewart who lives quite near the Moray Golf course."
If you can help identify anyone in this picture, please get in touch with Helen by emailing sunnybrae@optusnet.com.au
