GROSSER FAMILY2006 REUNION Report
28th and 29th October 2006
Well after many months of committee meetings and preparing for our Grosser family reunion at Tanunda in the beautiful BarossaValley, it is now over for another 15-20 years. We will still have small gatherings at Bethany every 2-3 years and there will also be other reunions for single branches held around Australia – read more about that later in this report.
Due to the decline of the older generation and what appears to be lack of interest in the younger family members, our numbers were lower than the first two reunions held (we had over 1700 people attend the first reunion in 1974). However, we were more than happy with the number of families attending this year and from all accounts everyone thoroughly enjoyed all of our events which included a pilgrimage bus trip, Saturday night concert and get together as well as the Sunday thanksgiving service and luncheon.
Before I go any further I would just like to thank the Committee for all their hard work and support. Every one had their particular jobs to do whether it was setting up the two locations, organising choir practice, childrens corner, door prizes, arranging flowers, selling/distributing books, taking care of the bus trip, catering, preparing/being part of the thanksgiving service and with guidance from our "Honorary" Committee member, Frank Eckert, I believe we had a very successful and enjoyable weekend.
There are so many other people to thank so I hope you don’t mind if I list them below.
Firstly, a big thank you to all who attended, some of you traveling long distances from WA, Victoria and NSW. It was lovely to meet new faces especially interstate and country committee members Anne Riordan and Tricia Alexander.
Fay & Rodney Grosser for organising the PILGRIMAGEand to Lyn Grosser for her assistance in typing and printing the handouts. If anyone is interested in receiving a copy of the pilgrimage handout which highlights the places visited, please let me know. All those who went on the pilgrimage returned saying what a wonderful day they had. It was also interesting to know that the bus driver (Peter Dueter) is also a family member so he was able to contribute more than a driver who didn’t have our family knowledge.
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Family members ready to take off on the bus and group photo at BethanyCemetery
GROSSER REUNION Report: 28th and 29th October 2006
2006 Reunion Chairman, Mark Boehmwas MC for our
Saturday night get-together.
It was great to see a lot more attending than expected and the small hall was packed - sorry to those in the front rows where it was a bit chilly but we were certainly warm enough at the back of the hall!!
Margaret Kuehnerecounted a funny family story about a train trip to Serviceton. It was great to hear this story and it would have been nice to hear some more but we just ran out of time.
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Below:Ron Ross played the bagpipes in his tartan kilt – really looked the part and the bag pipes were great.
Below:We were entertained by Roy Cody telling a few jokes, playing the harmonica and reciting his own composition of a poem called "Urban Forest Wood" – for those of you who are interested Roy has his own webpage where you can locate the poem in full.
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The Christian Mens Choir entertained usAbove: Dawn Boehm, Elaine Mc Dowell
with some hymns and German songsJean & Ralph Lehmann and Nita Lindsay
We were then treated to supper and a cuppa all donated and provided by Dawn Boehm, Jean Lehmann and Nita Lindsay. These three ladies looked after the catering all weekend and I mean that they donated, prepared, served and cleaned up after both the Saturday night and lunch on the Sunday. There was even a hot cuppa with sandwiches waiting for the bus when they returned from the pilgrimage – many thanks and well done ladies.
GROSSER REUNION Report: 28th and 29th October 2006
Sunday Thanksgiving service
Once again the Committee really is to be congratulated on a great effort. Most importantly we can not express our appreciation enough to Frank Eckert and Denis Grosser for the huge part they undertook in preparing and delivering the service in such a wonderful way. The Thanksgiving Service was the central point of our whole weekend and there was a lot to organize and ensure all items in the service ran smoothly. Thanks to Peter Grosser for handling this task – he made a great MC - so congratulations and well done to Frank, Denis and Peter.
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Fay organised speakers for the Diary Windows – again this was a wonderful insight into the hardship endured by Albert, Rosina and other families who escaped religious persecution in their homeland and sailed on the Skjold to their new home in Australia.
Above:Brian Grosser and Pamela Grigg as Albert & Rosina in the Diary Windows
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Well done to Fay Grosser and Neta Neldner who brought the choir together. Many thanks to Berrill Grosser for conducting and for also arranging the candle lighting ceremony.
Our sincere gratitude is extended to Grace Grosserwho again played the organ (having done so for the 1974 and 1991 reunion as well). Berrill, Grace and all the choir members only had two practices together but they sounded as though they had been together for many months – it was a credit to all concerned.
Others involved in the service were Roy and Marilyn Cody (singing the hymn "A Deer Pants for Water) and what a lovely job they did.
Pam Zadow, Rachel Schoenberg (nee Post), and Maree Toholke all took part in the service with readings.
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GROSSER REUNION Report: 28th and 29th October 2006
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Lydia Grosser (the youngest person at our 1991 reunion) played a big part in this year's celebrations. She was joined by Michael Grosser, Michael Klaebe andJeremy Zimmermann as ushers, welcoming guests as they arrived.
Lydia also played a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace on the clarinet assisted by Grace Grosser on the organ– very haunting.
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We presented Rebekah Charlotte Wundkewith a set of the 1991 book and the 2006 Supplement (for future reference) and the oldest person was Ralph Dahlenberg who received a beautiful patchwork throw rug hand made by Gwen Grosser. Thank you so much Gwen – I am sure Ralph will put it to good use.
Janet Brough put together toys and other items to keep children amused in the Childrens corner. This proved to be a popular spot to try to occupy the young ones while their parents were listening or involved in the service.
I know there are many others who contributed in one way or another but finally I would like to thank Malcolm McDowell, Peter Burns and Ralph Lehmann for helping Tim Grosser,Geoff Matuschka and Mark Boehm to set up the show hall. Elaine McDowell, Coral and Brian Gooley –thankyou for your kind donations and assistance with the registrations and distribution of the books.
To Jean Krollig a very big thank you for all the PR and media contacting made in the leadup to the reunion. We are also grateful to Richard Grosser for adding details of the reunion on his website If you have internet access, you will find out a lot more about the Grossers if you have a look around this website.
Harry Klose from Wauchope in NSW provided computer equipment to run a power point display of Grosser events leading up to the 2006 reunion. You wouldn’t believe the hassles Harry had driving to the reunion and once here learned that his computer business, Timbertown Computers had been burgled.
Harry, we certainly appreciate all your advice, assistance (and perseverance). Anyone with access to power point might be interested in purchasing our power point CD for $5.00.
The DVD of the Sunday Thanksgiving Service is also available at a cost of $10 plus postage. Anyone interested in purchasing either the power point CD or the Thanksgiving DVD should contact Heather – see details at end of report.
GROSSER REUNION Report: 28th and 29th October 2006
Do you have some 2006 Reunion photos?
I have already received some lovely photos (thanks to Margaret & Neil Nottage). If anyone has any more taken during the weekend, I would love to receive a copy either by mail or email attachment if you can spare a copy.
Photos such as these?Ivan and Betty Grosser from Bordertown, travelled with their daughter Cheryl Pope (from Ballarat) to meet up with other members of their family (Angela & Robert McKenna with their three sons, Louis, Jordan and Darcy). As you can see from this photo below, they could proudly say they had 4 generations of their own family attending the 2006 reunion.
As previously mentioned it was agreed at the reunion that the main reunion committee support the planning of various regional branch (or "satellite" group) reunions in various interstate locations. Anyone interested in holding a branch reunion in your own state should contact Heather Burns to advise details.
If you are interested in purchasing further books, "The Grossers From Gruenberg 1841 – 1991" or the "Supplement 1991 – 2006", then please don’t hesitate to contact Heather to place your order. If you ordered books and have not yet received them, please let me know as I am confident now that all orders have been distributed.
In order to plan ahead, it would be appreciated if you could either send an email or write to me (Heather Burns, 21 Florence St Netley 5037) with your candid comments and suggestions for future reunions. Would you prefer the same style weekend, or perhaps you might have some ideas that are totally different? We would be most interested to hear all of your thoughts.
Grosser Family Reunion Committee
Secretary: Heather Burns 21 Florence Street Netley SA 5037
Phone (after 6.00pm) 08 8293 5982 email:
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