THE sense of history and connection ran deep when descendants of Patrick and Annie Ward gathered to celebrate 150 years of Wards in Kerry.
Everyone brought their own picnic and set up under the green winter canopy of the jacaranda trees to catch up with their relatives.
Fifth generation of the family Bec Percy enjoyed relaxing with her cousin Samantha White as their daughters Florence Thurlow, 7, and Maddy Garratt, 13, caught up too.
Bec, who grew up on Duck Creek Road, said the family roots ran deep.
“It’s that sense of history and connection, bringing different generations together,” she said.
“My mum, Majella Percy, was really excited. I drove her here and she flew up from Kiama two hours south of Sydney for this and she hadn’t seen some of her cousins in 50 years.
“Mum grew up in Kerry as a child, so she’s seeing people she hasn’t seen in a long time.”
There were not many formalities, but Mark Ward said a few words.
“On behalf of Patrick and Annie Ward I would like to welcome all their descendants who have come today, and the Horan family who are also represented,” he said.
“I don’t intend to give a history lesson today as most of you will know more than me. Catching up with relatives we haven’t seen for a while and some that probably haven’t met will be the priority for the day. We ask that everyone here enjoy their picnic and mingle in these beautiful surrounds.”
The family also perused an expansive collection of photos displayed inside the hall, supplied by many descendants for the occasion.
There was a registration book to sign and an opportunity to donate towards the costs of organising the reunion, with plans to use any excess funds towards a monument to be kept in St John’s Church, Kerry, a place of worship for the Ward family and community.
Mark thanked Brian Gilroy, Debbie Cahill, Laurie Ward, Mary Rohan and Michael Undery for helping organise the event, and there was a chance to visit the original homestead, ‘Cummertha’ where Peter and Sandra Ward still live, with Peter’s mother Lauraine also living on the original selection.
