Helen's maternal grandparents were Godfrey Skellington & Helen Gray. They are now buried in Williamstown as is one of their children, Helen's father, John. They later moved to Williamstown and David worked for ICI in ammunitions until retirement. Once married, they lived in Kilmore and had 2 children. Helen's paternal grandparents were both Aussies: David Mairs & Winifred Still. David was born in Balnarring, Victoria but moved to Kilmore with his family in his twenties. In all, they had 38 grandchildren, Ben being one of 4 siblings. They are both now buried in Sale whilst all their children are still alive (as of 2006). They lived for a short time in Newborough near Moe and then in Sale, Gippsland where Case worked in a clerical role in an Engineering firm and later as the caretaker for the Catholic Church grounds and hall. They lived in Rjswijk, den Hague, where they ran a grocery shop and had 10 children before also moving to Australia in the mid 1950s.

They both came from den Hague situated between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. In all, they had 21grandchildren, Ben being one of 4 siblings.īen's maternal grandparents were also Dutch : Case Gordijn and Gerarda van Ruijven. They are both now buried in Maffra and two of their 8 children are also now deceased (one died in childhood at age 8).

They lived for a short time in Geelong before moving to Maffra in Gippsland, Victoria where Arie continued in his own painting and decorating business until retirement. They had 7 children before moving to Australia in 1953. They were both born and married in Rotterdam where Arie worked as a painter and decorator. We are Ben & Helen and are, of course, the product of our parents who are still alive (except Helen's dad) so we will let them tell their own stories and skip a generation to our grandparents who are all deceased.īen's paternal grandparents were Dutch : Arie van de Merwe & Doetje Knobbe.

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